Be the Referee: Bowling Ball Rules

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

December 17, 2024

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Bowling Ball Rules - Listen

We’re bowling today, and the question is: Can a bowler use a bowling ball with no holes?

The answer is yes – but there are some rules around it.

A ball with no holes would have to follow static balance rules. If the ball weighs more than 10 pounds, it may not have more than three ounces of difference between any two halves of the ball.

Additionally, there needs to be a plus sign (+) engraved on the ball where the bowler will place their dominant hand if the ball has more than a three-quarter ounce imbalance between any two halves of the ball.

If there is no imbalance, the plus sign is not needed, and the bowler can place their dominant hand anywhere on the bowling ball they like.

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Dec. 10: Neck Laceration Protector - Listen
Dec. 3: Basketball Goaltending - Listen
Nov. 26: 11-Player Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 19: 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football - Listen
Nov. 12: Back Row Setter - Listen
Nov. 5: Football OT - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call"
- Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18:
 Libero - Listen
Sept. 10:
 Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen

(MHSAA file photo.)

Cabrini Rolls Past Top Two Seeds to Clinch 1st Finals Championship

By Nick Cooper
Special for MHSAA.com

February 28, 2025

MUSKEGON – First time champions seemed to be the theme at Northway Lanes in Muskegon as Allen Park Cabrini joined girls champs Ravenna in capturing their schools’ first MHSAA Finals team championship Friday.

In an intense atmosphere, Allen Park Cabrini continuously entertained their fans during match play, following a sweep of Benzie Central by taking down No. 1 seed Houghton Lake in four games and then second-seeded Jonesville in the championship match.

“These guys work their butts off. They practice hard and they show up every week. I’m proud of them,” said Allen Park Cabrini head coach Joseph Csernai.

The Monarchs, seeded fourth after qualifying, defeated Jonesville in four games: 153-176, 160-142, 148-132, 214-158.

“They mean the world to me,” said Bryce Cadaret of his teammates. The championship was an extra gift for the gifted bowler as he celebrated a birthday on the final day of his high school bowling career.

“Perfect birthday present,” he noted.

A senior, Cadaret celebrated the outstanding success that his team has enjoyed but also reflected on the time that will be coming to an end as he faces graduation this year.

“(The team) means everything. I’ve been doing this for more than four years. I’ve been with these guys since sixth grade,” he said. “They mean the world to me. I’m just so happy.”

Cabrini’s success has undoubtedly been the result of the team’s skill; however, the Monarchs’ head coach realizes that the school’s support plays a factor in their current success and the success that the team wishes to have in the future.

“Thank you to the parents, fans and everybody. I don’t know what we would do without them,” said Csernai.

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