First Posted: 3/21/2015
One of my lasting memories for this season was the impact that the OHSAA Division I battle of Wapakoneta and Beavercreek had on Blake Knueve, of Wapakoneta.
It was such a great answer to critics of the sport who still do not authorize it for their schools. Blake and the young men of Wapak were spent, as the opportunity to replicate last year’s title slipped away from them. It was very difficult for the group to contain their emotions. It reminded me of the old picture of YA Tittle kneeling on the field after a failed attempt at an NFL title.
The young men deserved a better fate, and Knueve and teammate Tyler Miller thankfully had another chance to reach for the brass ring the next afternoon in the Pepsi Tournament at Westgate. Hopefully rolling 690 as Knueve did and 770 as Miller did on that afternoon helped sooth some of the wounds of Saturday and bring back the smiles to two really good young men.
The Pepsi event is just one of the tournaments that the high school youth will now have available to them as their season has ended.
Next up for many is the Jessica Sanford Memorial Singles tournament that will be available to the student-athletes that have been competing for LCC, Shawnee, Temple Christian and Lima Senior. It began yesterday and will conclude this afternoon at Southgate Lanes in Bluffton.
The parents of the championship teams (past and present tense) will have the chance to bowl with their sons and daughters in the Wapakoneta USBC Adult/Junior Doubles Tourney. It started this weekend as well, but there is still the chance to roll next weekend as well. Just think, a chance to bowl with a champ in Wapak. Certainly wish I had a league average!
One of the greatest traits in our area is the class of the parents of WOHSBC. That character was clearly on display in Columbus over the last two weekends. If only their was a way for sportsmanship and character to be contagious, as it was lacking in some sectors of the Division I event. Congrats to our area representatives for being a cut above.
The 36th annual 20th Century Adult/Junior Tournament will be held April 17, 18,19 at the Home of The League bowler. One of the things that makes this tournament very special is that it is a qualifier for the All American Family Tournament.
It is a great event broken down into four divisions based on the age of the child. Make sure you check up front so you are fully aware of the division that you will be bowling in.
What I really like about both of these events if the folks at Wapak have done everything that they could do to not be in conflict with 20th. Each of the events are wide open to juniors and adults from all over the area.
The student-athletes can now return to battle in the Northwest Ohio Junior Tournament Bowlers Tour. The next event there will be in the friendly confines of Highland Lanes in Ottawa on at 10 a.m. April 12th.
All of you who are making the trip make sure you bring a great appetite for the best pizza steak and one of the better pizzas on that or any circuit.
I really wanted to take a little time to speak of the UNOH Racers as well as the student-athletes from our area high schools to include three state championship squads, but I am going to put that off for now as there are adults that need fed tournament information so they can go have fun as well.
Next on the agenda for the tournament bowlers in our area would be one of my favorite event types ran by one of my favorite event holders.
This coming Saturday, March 28th, JJ Miller Bowling Promotions will be holding Bakers Dough Spring Fling. The cost is only $40 per participant and is worth every bit of that for the adults in our community to experience the method utilized to earn high school and collegiate titles.
Miller runs quality events, and this will not be any different. There are entry blanks at the different houses of the area, as this tournament is wide open to everybody. You can either show up at 4:30 at 20th Century to register for the event or call JJ at 419-303-3888 to register in advance.
Finally, Bruce VanMetre has a great team tournament coming called the Delphos National Team Scratch Tournament, as it will be using the same conditions used in El Paso for the USBC National tourney. That should be fun!
The date for this event is April 4th, and you can call the lanes at 419-692-2695 to register.
One of the elements that I am looking forward to in this tournament is the eliminator format that it will be utilizing.
Wow, so late in the season but there is a lot still happening for the young and adult bowlers in our community.
