By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The OHSAA High School Bowling season has concluded with the teams in Division I competing in the championship tournaments on Friday and Saturday, following the Division II teams ending their season in tournament action Feb. 28 and March 1.

Three teams celebrated their advancement to the state dance this season, including the Ravenna boys, Rootstown boys and the Rootstown girls.

ROOTSTOWN GIRLS

The Rovers had the best finish, seventh in the state after advancing to the championship round at the state tournament at HP Lanes in Columbus.

The team is will return in a good position for the 2025-26 season as well, losing only two seniors off the state-qualifying team: Emma Day and Cassie Egli.

The team will be looking to repeat their successes of this season, but will do it from inside a new league. All of Rootstown’s boys and girls teams will compete as members of the Chagrin Valley Conference next season.

ROOTSTOWN BOYS

It was the year of the Rovers at the state’s Division II tournament as the Rootstown boys finished in ninth place at the state tournament.

The Rovers also won the PTC tournament, have won four straight PTC championships just like the Rootstown girls, and easily qualified through the sectional and district tournament to land at the state event.

RAVENNA BOYS

The Ravens qualified for state this season and finished 13th overall.

Ravenna graduates three seniors: Jacob Stefansic, Mark Jones and Carson Schueller, but returns four juniors and a sophomore from this season’s state-qualifying team.

Kelly Champ, Ravens coach offered following the state tournament:

“I feel we were prepared. We just couldn’t carry and it really hurt us. We shot at 40 single-pin spares in the regular games. (Assistant coach) Alex (Santiago) and I threw everything we had to help them get better carry and nothing worked.

“We were only 37 pins off the cut after the first game, but lanes three and four just killed us. It was leaving some ugly stuff for us, and we just couldn’t bounce back from it.

“Peter Jennings and Jeriah Miller led the team with 615 and 605, respectively. That put them at 44th and 50th in the individual standings.

“Being the smallest Division I school and still finishing 13th in the state is an amazing feat. I’m excited that most of these guys were with us when we went (to the state tournament) in 2023 and couldn’t be prouder of them getting back there again this year.

“They battled and fought hard all season long and learned a lot along the way. February was a great month for them.

“It will be hard to replace the seniors that are graduating. But the juniors that are moving up are ready to put in the work and get back to States again next year,” concluded Champ.

A FEW ADDITIONAL NOTES

GARFIELD

The Garfield girls missed going to the state tournament by only 45 pins at the district tournament hosted by Roseland Lanes. The G-Men also return a strong team, graduating seniors Haley Thompson and Meganna Veccia.

FIELD

The Field boys surprised a few people this season, winning their Metro Athetlic Conference Postseason Tournament and the Division II sectional at Spins Lanes in Kent before finishing out of the top-four qualifying teams at the District.

In only their second year as a bowling team, the Falcons set their sites not only on this season, but next season as well as, with only one senior, Caleb Brastine, on this season’s team.

TOURNAMENTS

While the official OHSAA season has concluded, there are still several tournaments sponsored by Ohio High School Bowling that athletes may consider and they are not just for high school student athletes.

The Ohio 7th-12th grade State Championships are scheduled for March 29 (7th – 10th grade) and March 30 (11th and 12th grade).

The championship singles event is open to any Ohio 7th through 12th grade bowler and is sponsored by the Ohio High School Bowling Coaches association.

The tournament is held at the same site as the state tournament, HP Lanes in Columbus.

The Midwest USA Adult-Youth Doubles Championship rolls-off on April 19 at Beaver-Vu Bowl in Beavercreek.

Two divisions for adult-youth (age 15-18) and adult-youth (14 and under).

Finally, the Ohio 7th-12th grade State Doubles Championships are scheduled for April 26, again at HP Lanes.

Registration forms for all of these tournaments are available at ohsb.org.