Senior Standouts Rally & Reign in D1
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
March 7, 2020
ALLEN PARK – Denny O’Neill described Cheyenne Washington as a four-year stalwart in the Lake Orion program, coachable and a leader.
He could now describe her as a champion as she rallied from a 19-pin deficit against Lauren Slagter of Jenison to claim the Division 1 Finals singles title Saturday at Thunderbowl Lanes, 392-353.
Slagter opened in the second, fifth and seventh frames to open the door for the Dragons’ senior.
“I just wanted to keep making good shots and have fun,’’ said Washington. “It really didn’t matter about the score. Instead of playing in, like the girls were playing, I had to play outside. I had to change balls because the boys pushed the oil to the outside, but that’s the line I like playing. It’s a great feeling.’’
“She’s my team captain this year, and she has great family support,’’ O’Neill said. “She has been a pleasure to coach – very trainable and she listens.’’
Slagter advanced to the final by beating Carrington Beaman of Farmington, 483-385, while Washington eliminated Anna Maxwell of Westland John Glenn, 418-351.
In the boys division, Utica Eisenhower’s Dylan Kelley was trying to add a singles title to his team’s championship on Friday. Standing in his way was smooth lefty Izaac Goergen of Midland. Splits on Lane 5 had Goergen searching for an adjustment. He found it and claimed the title against Kelley, who couldn’t find the pocket.
“I had been throwing urethane all day, the purple Hammer, and we noticed the shot was tighter,’’ said Goergen. “With the girls pushing the oil inside, I had to change balls. I went to my pearl Idol, and it made all the difference. I guess it worked.’’
The Macomb Area Conference bowlers dominated the top spots in both divisions as junior Dani Decruydt of St. Clair Shores Lakeshore was the top qualifier in the girls division at 1,268. Second was Samantha Mason of Sterling Heights (1,267), and third was Allyson Sand of Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (1,262).
Decruydt made a quick exit as the top seed as she was knocked out by 16th seed Kayla Mazure of L’Anse Creuse North (389-382). Mazure advanced to face Washington, who eliminated Noelle Phillips of Traverse City West, 459-417.
Second seed Mason was knocked out by the 15th seed, freshman Angelita Rodriguez of Wyandotte Roosevelt, 372-332. Rodriguez moved on to face Beaman, who had defeated Evelyn Cano of Flushing, 391-380. Beaman overcame some thumb issues and dispatched Rodriguez to advance to the semifinals.
The top remaining seed was Sand, who downed of Carmen Corona of Warren Cousino, 448-336.
Jenison also had two bowlers make it to the round of eight as Anna Bartz beat Ondrea Ream of Traverse Central 403-315 and Slagter knocked out Katherine Dybicki of Belleville, 421-378.
LCN’s Sand and Mazure lost in the round of eight; Sand to Jenison’s Slagter, 472-373, and Mazure to Washington 341-329. Jenison’s Bartz was eliminated by Maxwell, 380-326.
In the boys division sophomore Carter Milasinovich of Utica Eisenhower was the top marksman at 1,395 followed by Noah Samuels of Salem (1,377) and Goergen of Midland (1,365).
The upsets in the boys division started early as well as Samuels lost to sophomore Ben Augustitus of St. Clair Shores Lakeshore (446-393). Salem teammate Jon Hall also lost to a sophomore, Justin Strait of Grand Haven (436-378). That ended the weekend for Salem, which finished runner-up in the Team Final on Friday.
Strait ended Augustitus’ day in the quarterfinal, 409-355, to advance to the semis.
Eisenhower’s Milasinovich also didn’t last long, as he was beaten in the first round of match play by Matt Buck of Rockford (437-373). However, teammate Kelley advanced to the quarterfinal round, opening match play with a win over Julihanni Alcini of Roseville.
Marco Ramirez of Brownstown Woodhaven advance to the semifinals by beating Buck, 484-378 while Goergen bettered Davison’s Brendan Ashley, 428-380. He then faced Kelley, who had beaten David Schaberg of Holt, 474-386.
Click for full girls results and boys results.
Standish-Sterling's Vallad Jumps from 47th as Junior to No. 1 in Final Match
By
Jeff Bleiler
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2025
JACKSON — Paige Vallad has simple goals entering the Division 3 girls singles bowling championship Saturday at JAX 60. She wanted to see improvement from last year.
Mission accomplished in a massive way.
A year after finishing 47th during the qualifying round of the Singles Finals, the Standish-Sterling senior brought home a championship, outlasting Milan junior Maggie Smith, 363-295.
“I just wanted to make the first cut,” Vallad said afterward. “I was hoping to get the top 16, which was better than I did last year, and end on a good note. I never thought I’d be here.”
Vallad helped her school to a double-dip in Jackson by winning the title a day after the boys team captured its first Finals trophy.
“It was a grind, it was hard, but it was worth it in the end,” she said.
Vallad qualified fifth after the six-game block with 1,156. Jacey Thibodeau, a Madison Heights Bishop Foley junior, blistered the lanes to lead qualifying with a total of 1,394, boosted by a closing 289 game.
Vallad ended Thibodeau’s day in the semifinals 350-322 after Thibodeau averaged 214 in her first two matches. Vallad reached the semifinals by defeating Cheboygan senior Alicia Vieau 372-318 and Grass Lake junior Marielle Schafran 409-393.
She started slowly in the championship match, opening in her first three frames. But she erased those with three strikes in a row and only opened two other frames, including the 10th frame of the second game when the result was already decided.
Vallad celebrated the victory with a tight embrace from her coach and father, Jason, who took over the program just this year.
“It’s his first year coaching, and it was awesome,” she said. “The best way to end my senior year. He was there with me through the whole moment. He kept encouraging me and was the best coach I’ve had throughout the years.”
Jason Vallad knew his daughter could hold her own in the tournament, especially considering she gains added revolutions on the ball by employing a two-handed delivery style.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” he said. “I knew she was a good bowler, but to come down here and compete at this level, they’re all good bowlers, so I’m super proud and happy for her.”
Smith qualified as the second seed with 1,255 and was red hot during her first three matches. She defeated Boyne City senior Victoria McGeorge 404-396, Armada junior Maggie Fradle 482-374, and Livonia Clarenceville senior Caitlyn Johnson 401-364.
Her 482 total on games of 258 and 224 against Fradle was the highest two-game total of the day.
In the championship match, Smith struggled to games of 136 and 159, but her coach Linda Towler said the future is bright.
“She is great inside and out,” Fowler said. “There’s just not enough I can say about her. She’s in the bowling alley every day honing her skills. I’m just so proud of her.”