Marauders Continue Their Climb Towards Divisional Crowns

This past week the Warren Mott Marauders bowling teams competed on Monday and Friday in what proved to be the final two meets for team competition this year. The upcoming final divisional meet has been changed to be a singles competition so that we will be able to have individual champions in all four divisional groups. That meet will be held at Pampa Lanes on Thursday, February 26th, just one day before the regional competition begins in the first ever MHSAA post season tournament.

But first, back to this past weeks meets at Bonanza and Sterling Lanes. On Monday the boy's varsity team faced a real test as they bowled Chippewa Valley. Warren Mott came into the meet in first place with a 5-1 record while Chippewa was tied for second at 4-2. The boys started strong as they won both Baker matches with scores of 192 and 208 to take a 10-0 points lead into team play. Despite a fine 231 game from junior Jeff Peltier, the varsity boys dropped 7 of 9 points and allowed the Big Red back into the match. Now leading only 12-7, the boys needed 4 more points to lock up the meet. In the second game freshman Tim Wilczek (204) and senior Keven Beasley (221) lead the way as the team captured 7 points to improve their record to 6-1 by a final tally of 19-11.

The girls' varsity team also bowled the team from Chippewa Valley but with the team at 4-2, they are looking up at a very good Warren Cousino team who are 5-1. The girls needed a victory to have any chance of getting into first place and they turned it on late to win 23-7. After splitting the baker games the Lady Marauders took 17 of the 20 match play points to improve their record to 5-2. The girls were paced by a strong performance from senior Jessica Biernacki (196-150), freshman Jessica Shovan (273 series) and a much improved senior Jessica Ludeman (155). The ladies next face the Sterling Heights Stallions at their home house, not an easy task if they want to repeat as division champions.

The division leading boy's junior varsity team looked to remain undefeated when they faced Sterling Heights. After splitting the baker matches the Junior Marauders flexed their muscle and took 18 of the 20 match play points to win the meet 24-6. All the boys chipped in for this win as Nick Grenon shot season highs of 239 and 438, Patrick Griffin shot his best of the season with 241 and 423, Damon Betterton, the Sterling Heights transfer, shot 218 and 204 against his old team while Mike Kusmierz quietly shot a fine 205 and 200 for a 405 series. Their 1995 team series total was one pin off of the league high of 1996 also held by the Warren Mott Boys team. They next face the Warren Mott girl's team on Friday. Don't think there is any incentive their?

Speaking of the girls junior varsity team, they had the opportunity to actually bowl another girls team this week as they took on the junior varsity girls from Sterling Heights. All three of the girls' teams I the division had identical 1-5 records so this was a chance to put themselves a notch above the other teams and get some well deserved notice. The Junior Lady Marauders took an ugly but early lead of 10-0 by winning both Baker games, even though one win was by shooting a 91 game. The ladies then buckled down and earned a solid victory by gaining 17 of the 20 match play points to win for the second time this year. Paced by season high performances from senior captain Erika Wagner (293 series) and Nicole Bowmer (256 series) along with another solid performance from freshman Kristy Jorgenson (133-152) the ladies continue to improve each week and are getting ready for the State Junior Varsity Tournament on February 21st and 22nd at Century Bowl in Waterford.

Good luck to all the teams as they go to their final team meet of the season at Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights this Friday, February 13th.