Cheboygan girls repeat as regional bowling champions

GAYLORD — The Cheboygan girls bowling team captured a regional championship by finishing first at a MHSAA Division 3 meet on Friday, Feb. 25.

The Cheboygan girls team of Izzy Taylor, Izzy Portman, Jenna Knaffle, Monica Holland, Adina Kurschat and Alicia Vieau took first place with 3,236 total pins, beating out second-place Clare, which recorded 3,006 pins, and third-place Boyne City, which finished with 2,933 pins.

"I'm really proud of the kids," said Cheboygan coach Brian Taylor. "They were a little nervous. This year, it was probably the first time in probably as long as all the bowling programs in the state of Michigan have been going that they changed the oil pattern this year for the regionals and state finals, and they call it the 'Phantom Pattern.' The oil went down a little longer so we had to make some adjustments, make some changes, and they were a little nervous because they were so used to the other way, and they obviously wanted to still do well.

"They put in a lot of time, not just at practice, but extra practice. They'd be there before practice, extra nights when we weren't practicing, trying to be ready for it. They just went out there and did what they needed to do and gave themselves a chance again, and we're going to go down and try to represent Cheboygan and see what happens."

It was a repeat title win for the Cheboygan girls program, which has also captured regional crowns in four of the last five seasons. 

As for states, Taylor believes his group has a solid chance to win the whole thing. 

"I honestly feel we have as good of a chance as anybody," Taylor said. "There was only two teams in the state in our division that actually shot a higher score than we did, and one of them was only by three pins, so I definitely think they have the ability to go down there and compete for the state championship. It comes down to how you're doing that day.

"We'll have to see, but they definitely have a chance."

The Cheboygan girls also saw one bowler qualify for states in Saturday's individual regional round, as Portman finished third overall with 998 pins. Portman's high game was a 207.

Knaffle (850) finished in 16th, while Taylor (825) took 18th, Kurschat (769) was 35th, Holland (730) registered 40th, and Vieau (704) recorded 46th.

Claire's Sofiah Coker and Alexah Coker finished in a tie for first with 1,044 pins each.

Swanberg qualifies for state finals individually

Cheboygan's Cole Swanberg earned a spot in next weekend's state finals by finishing in a tie for third place with 1,199 pins in Saturday's boys individual regional meet. 

Just missing out on states was Nathan Wiles (1,112), who finished in 12th, while Xander Bowman (24th, 1,049), Tommy Jones (46th, 914), Edward LaPointe (62nd, 821) and Marvin Stokes (75th, 715) also competed for the Cheboygan boys.

"They were definitely disappointed. It's always a heartbreaker when you set your goals — and we usually set pretty high goals," Taylor said. "When you fall a little short, they feel bad about it, but they bowled good. In the team event, they worked just as hard. It just wasn't meant to be their day. They ended up fifth, and there was some good bowling there by the other schools, and they just came up a little short. 

"They've got nothing to hang their heads about, they did well."

Gladwin's Brady Watson, who finished with 1,277 pins, won the boys regional title.

The Cheboygan boys were unable to qualify for the team state finals after finishing fifth with 3,531 pins on Friday, Feb. 25.

Standish Sterling (3,899) finished first, while Gladwin (3,719) and Benzie Central (3,587) also qualified for states by earning second and third, respectively.

This year's Division 3 bowling finals will take place at JAX 60 in Jackson on Friday-Saturday, March 4-5.