2004 Bowling Season Is Rolling Along

The Warren Mott Bowling Team has started the season off on a very good note with the Boy's and Girl's Varsity teams' winning the first three meets. The Boy's Junior Varsity team, last years State Champions, also have been perfect through the first three meets with the Girls Junior Varsity, having to compete against the boy's teams again this year, have started a respectable 1-2.

Many of the teams look quite different than last year with graduation and an influx of freshman bowlers. Out of the thirty (30) student athletes selected for this years' team, there are seventeen (17) members who were not on last season's rosters. Along with that a number of the junior varsity bowlers from last season have moved up to the varsity teams this year, with five (5) making that jump. As you can probably tell it has been quite a juggling act so far this season for new head coach Mark Kovach.

Coach Kovach has taken over the head coaching duties this season from Jerry Tarabek, who was head coach the past two seasons. Coach Tarabek is still with the team as an assistant coach but due to his business duties had to make the decision to step down as the head coach. So not only have the players changed but so has the coaching staff. But, even with all of that, there have been some stellar performances already this season.

The boy's varsity team has had one of the biggest turnovers but returning players senior Richard Kruk and senior Captain Paul Narlock are leading the way along with sophomore Jeff Peltier, up from junior varsity last year. All three bowlers are averaging over 200 with Jeff's 223 average being second only to Kenny Wichman of Chippewa Valley who is averaging 227. Jeff also has the high two game series and second high game so far this season with a 279 game and a 503 series. Other members of this years varsity team include Keven Beasley (Sr.), Kris Smith (Sr.), Eric Gulecki (So.) and Tim Wilczek (Fr.)

The girl's varsity team is lead by their captain junior Jessica Tyler. Jessica, along with last years captain Nikki Wilczek, are the lone returning players from last season's division championship team. Newcomers Robin Narlock, yes Paul's little sister, Jessica Shovan and Jessica Ludeman join with Veronica Wineski and Jessica Biernacki, both up from junior varsity last year, to round out the team. Sophomore Robin Narlock is making her presence felt early as she has been anchoring the team and has a league high average of 179 as well as second high game (202) and first high series (382). The ladies also did themselves very proud at the Macomb County Championship meet at Sunnybrook Lanes when they took a third place finish by beating a very good Sterling Heights Stevenson team in the consolation round after falling to the eventual winners and last years state champions from L'Anse Cruese North.

The junior varsity boy's are picking up right where they left off last season with some very hot shooting from a number of players. This years captain junior Jason Provencher has shown a much more consistent approach to the game and his scores are showing it. Mike Kusmierz (Jr.) and Kyle Kovach (So.) return from last years state championship team and have also been leaders along with Jason. Kyle has league high average (224), high game (267) and high series (461) while Mike has the third best series shot this year with a 440. Six newcomers also represent Warren Mott this season with freshman Nick Grenon joining sophomores Dustin Gilliam, Andrew Kelly, Patrick Griffin, Bryan Cadavid and sophomore transfer from Sterling Heights, Damon Betterton. Nick Grenon has posted a 184 average so far this year and Andrew Kelly shot his persona; best game of 234 a in the second meet. These guys are anxious to prove last year was no fluke and they will get their chance on February 21st and 22nd at Century Bowl in Waterford to defend their title.

The girls junior varsity has only one hold over from last year and that is captain Erika Wagner. Erika has switched from right handed to left handed this season, she is a natural lefty, and she is making steady progress to get back to where she was last year. New this year is Sherrie Linton, Jessica Howard, Courtney Sitko, Annie Lange, Kristy Jorgenson and Nicole Bowmer. Kristy, a freshman, leads the girls junior varsity members in average (146), high game (176) and high series (343) this season while Sherri Linton is making her presence felt with second high game (171), second high series (310) and third high average (138). The girls have their work cut out for them again this year as they are mixed in with the boy's junior varsity team during the meets but, unlike last year, there are two other girls junior varsity teams in our division this season and they will get the chance to test their talents against both of those teams as well.

Good luck to all the teams as they move on to the next scheduled meet on Friday, January 30th at Kingswood Lanes, home of the Chippewa Valley Big Red.

Also, do not forget about our third annual moonlight bowling fund raiser on February 21st at Universal Lanes. There are prizes, jackpots and a whole lot of fun waiting to be had. We hope you can join us and help keep the seasons going for these young athletes. We raise 80% of our operating funds from this event so please help out and come have a great time with all of us.

Jerry Tarabek Assistant Coach