By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The high school girls bowling preview for Portage County for the 2025-26 season.

FIELD FALCONS

COACH: Beth Dyer, Michele Belknap

CONFERENCE: Metro Athletic Conference

HOME LANES: Kent Lanes, Kent

LAST SEASON: 5-9 record

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Makayla Doak, Allison Hinkle, Melinda Walker, Audriana Flores Soler.

BOWLERS TO WATCH: Makayla Doak.

GARFIELD G-MEN

COACH: Joe Brigham, 25^th season, 378-40 coaching record

CONFERENCE: Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

HOME LANES: Sky Lanes, Garfield

LAST SEASON: 18-0

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Makenna Guyette (Sr.), Alexis Phillips (Sr.), Sierra Foy (Jr.), Joy Justice (Jr.), Alexandra Garlich (Jr.).

BOWLERS TO WATCH: Joy Justice was MVP for the 2024-2025 season. Additional bowlers expected to produce this season are: Sierra Foy (First Team All-MVAC last season), Makenna Guyette (Second Team All-MVAC) and Alexis Phillips (Second Team All-MVAC).

EXPECTATIONS: “We return all but one from last year’s team,” said Brigham. “I expect us to repeat as league champs. Hopefully, we will go pretty far during tournaments. We have a couple underclassmen we are trying to bring along, hopefully by the end of the year so they can help out.”

KENT ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS

COACH: Eric Hartline, second season

CONFERENCE: Suburban League

HOME LANES: Kent Lanes, Kent

LAST SEASON: 4-8 record

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Callie Adams, Desiree Holliday.

13^TH FRAME: Cory Hartline and Ryan Horn are the assistant coaches.

RAVENNA RAVENS

COACH: Mike Smith

CONFERENCE: Metro Athletic Conference

HOME LANES: Spins Bowl, Kent

LAST SEASON: 2-12

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Torrie Garner-Mann (Sr.), Torrie Butner (Jr.), Hannah Jones (Jr.), Hannah Jones (Jr.), Zoey LeMasters (Jr.).

BOWLERS TO WATCH: Zoey LeMasters, Torrie Butner.

EXPECTATIONS: “With four returning letterwinners and an influx of new talent, we have a team at full strength for the first time in several years,” said Smith. “I expect this to be a breakout year for Ravenna girls bowling. This will be a team to watch this season.”

13^TH FRAME: Jimmy Pischera is the assistant coach.

ROOTSTOWN ROVERS

COACH: Andy Day, 4^th year, 36-6 overall record

CONFERENCE: Chagrin Valley Conference

HOME LANES: Spins Bowl, Kent

LAST SEASON: 12-2 PTC champions, 7^th at OHSAA State Tournament.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: The Rovers return six letterwinners this season to the team that won the Portage Trail Conference championship four years in a row and advanced to the OHSAA Division II State Tournament.

BOWLERS TO WATCH: “Senior Kaitlyn Hammerschmidt has big-game ability,” said Day. “She has improved 20-plus pins a year in her average since her freshman year. I’m looking for her to be mid-180s to 190s this year. She’s one of the leaders that lead by example and is a great teammate.

“Junior Olivia Davies finished last year with a 168 average,” added Day. “She stepped up big for us last year while battling injuries down the stretch, is our only lefty and is very consistent. Great spare shooter and stays upbeat. She’s learned to stay level-headed and keeps battling on tough patterns.

“Rounding out the varsity squad are second-year bowlers and seniors Valeri Derteen, Anna Drago and Alyssa Fienberg and juniors Nina Gill and Hailie Furry.”

EXPECTATIONS: “This is our first year in the CVC,” said Day. “We’ve won the PTC for four straight years, and we are looking for the same outcome in the new conference. Our overall goal is to make another run at the state championship again. For the last two years, we’ve made the cut and finished fourth and seventh. I believe we have a squad that can contend for it,” concluded Day.

13^TH FRAME: Emma Day, cousin of head coach Andy Day, is the assistant coach this season.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES

COACH: Mike Hammond, 10^th season.

CONFERENCE: Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

HOME LANES: Spins Bowl, Kent

LAST SEASON: 2-15 in the MVAC

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Southeast returns five bowlers, including four letterwinners. Returning are last year’s MVP Lizzie Mix and Laine Streem, Kinsley Luke, MaKayla Diehl, Sophia McKibben and Anna Holstein.

BOWLERS TO WATCH: The Pirates add seven new team members, including promising freshmen Emily Morrison and Emma Smith.

“The girls are displaying great potential for a good season and should be competitive in their league,” said Hammond.

EXPECTATIONS: “I am looking forward to helping to develop this team to become competitive in the MVAC,” said Hammond.

13^TH FRAME: Linda Smith is the assistant coach.

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

COACH: Matt Stump

CONFERENCE: Metro Athletic Conference

HOME LANES: Kent Lanes, Kent

LAST SEASON: 10-4, third place in the MAC

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kendall Clark (Sr.), Amy Rein (Jr.), Alivia Comely (Jr.), Natalie Southerland (So.), Lindsay Gallavan (So.), Gianna Wiley (So.).

BOWLERS TO WATCH: Jordyn Brigham (Fr.), Kendall Clark (Sr.), Amy Rein (Jr.), Natalie Southerland (So.), Ava Clark (Fr.).

EXPECTATIONS: “We have high expectations this season,” said Stump. “We have a great group of girls and a lot of talent returning — plus a couple key additions.”

13^TH FRAME: “This is only the second year, in recent history, with a girls varsity team at Streetsboro,” said Stump. “Coming off a solid inaugural season, the team is excited to compete all year.”