By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The high school bowling season is, quite literally, right around the corner as coaches and teams were permitted by the OHSAA to start practicing on Nov. 3, with the first competitions getting underway Nov. 17.

Portage County has teams playing across several leagues, including the Portage Trail Conference (Rootstown, Southeast); Metro Athletic Conference (Ravenna, Streetsboro); Suburban (Kent Roosevelt); Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (Garfield); and Chagrin Valley Conference (Crestwood).

Aurora, Field, Mogadore, Waterloo and Windham do not sponsor bowling as a varsity sport.

Watch Portage Sports this season for complete, high school bowling coverage, including results, upcoming matches and tournaments and profiles on the high-school athletes competing.

TOURNAMENTS

Several teams in Portage County host tournaments that are well-attended by the top bowling teams across the state.

The Ravenna Ravens host a varsity tournament (Nov. 25) and a junior-varsity tournament on Nov. 26 at Spins Bowl in Kent.

For information, contact Ellen Cook at 234-296-1971 or email bubba 92304@gmail.com. Entry deadline is Nov. 11.

Garfield hosts the annual G-Men Classic Tournament at Sky Lanes on Jan. 6 and 7. Call Sky Lanes for additional information at 330-527-9999.

Finally, the annual Rootstown Rover Sectional Preview Tournament rolls off at Spins Bowl in Kent on Jan. 13 for Division-I schools and Jan. 14 for Division-II schools. For registration information, call or email Susan Jenior (330-206-9083, golffam2@gmail.com) or Keith Waesch, Rootstown Athletic Director (waesch@roversk12.org).

FIRST UP ON THE CALENDAR

Each year, an invitational Kick-Off Tournament is held, inviting the best teams in the state to compete.

In the Division-II tournament, set for Dec. 2, the Ravenna boys varsity bowling team and the Rootstown varsity girls and boys teams were invited to the best-of-the-best tournament will compete in Columbus.

COMING UP

PAYTON CURALL

Next week, prior to the start of the season, read about bowlers to watch this season.

Bowling previews for all bowling teams (girls and boys) will be included in Portage Sports prior to the official start of competition on Nov. 17.

Portage County bowling teams have always boasted outstanding bowlers, continuing to the state tournament and, after graduation, bowling in college.

That continued in the 2022-23 season as the Ravenna boys and Rootstown’s Payton Curall qualified for the state-bowling tournament. Curall made history for the Rovers as the first girl to qualify for the state tournament from Rootstown.

Watch for highlights on those bowlers making their home teams proud and collegiate competitors making Portage County proud at the next level.