Most people have probably heard of the Biblical story of how young David, the future king of Israel, slays the giant warrior Goliath despite overwhelming odds.
Last Saturday, “David” – in this case, the Gabriel Richard High School boys’ bowling team – defeated three “Goliaths” to become the unexpected king of the Catholic League.
With just one senior and a team of much-less-experienced sophomores and freshmen, the underdog Pioneers finished a distant seventh in the morning round of bowling at Pampa Lanes in Warren – just good enough to qualify for the head-to-head, winner-take-all Baker matches that would follow.
Going up against much older and more experienced teams, Gabriel Richard came on to shock second-seeded University of Detroit Jesuit, third-seeded Warren DeLaSalle and – in the finals – Novi Catholic Central, to become champions of the 2011-2012 season.
“We call it the David and Goliath effect,” said Gabriel Richard Coach Bob Stempien, a Hall of Fame bowler who nonetheless enjoyed the moment as much as anybody. “Clearly by the averages we were the underdogs in all three matches. Maybe the stars are aligned properly. It was really kind of cool.
“What a great bunch of boys,” he added. “They never gave up and believed in themselves even when they were behind. I will tell you no one in that building believed what they saw – and our boys learned a great less in fortitude and the importance of a positive attitude.”
Going into the tournament, Stempien said he was hopeful that the Pioneers would come out of the 11-team morning round as one of the eight qualifiers.
Competing for Gabriel Richard throughout the day were senior Justin McClain, sophomores Zach Barr, Zack Stempien and Cody Rich and freshmen Christian O’Callaghan and Jack Jerry.
“Four of those kids never bowled in a league before practice started in November,” Stempien said.
The GR bowlers combined for a team score of 2624 pins. By contrast top-seeded Catholic Central totaled 3066 – but it was still enough for the Pioneers to advance to the next round.
For the rest of the day, bowlers competed in a Baker game format.
Each team used five bowlers in the lineup, but instead of each bowler rolling his own game, the boys took turns rolling individual frames.
The first bowler rolled the first and sixth frames, the second bowler rolled the second and seventh frames, and so on, until all 10 frames were completed.
In the first Baker game against U of D, the Pioneers lost, 198-178. But they rallied to take the next two, 187-162 and 199-156.
U of D was eliminated and Gabriel Richard advanced to the final four teams of the tournament.
The Pioneers swept DeLaSalle in two straight games, 192-159 and 184-179.
In the 10th frame of the second game, senior anchor bowler and Justin McClain threw a strike and a spare to put Gabriel Richard in the finals against Catholic Central, which had eliminated Dearborn Divine Child in the other semifinal game.
GR made a statement in the first game against CC early, winning, 201-197. But it wasn’t easy. Team leader McClain needed two strikes in the 10th frame and he delivered three strikes, giving his team the win.
But the Shamrocks stormed back to even the match at one win apiece, bowling 10 strikes to win the lopsided second game, 278-200.
The deciding third game was a nail-biter and again came down to the 10th frame.
McClain came through again, rolling three straight strikes to give the Pioneers a three-pin victory, 183-180 – and the championship of Catholic League bowling.
“I did what I was supposed to do,” McClain said. “I bowled the best I could. But it wasn’t just me. The team did what they could, too. We all bowled the best that we could.
“We were the underdogs. Not a lot of people had faith that we could do it. They (the rival teams) had a greater chance of having better bowlers because they have a lot more kids at their schools.”
Gabriel Richard averaged an impressive 190.5 during the eight Baker games. McClain said the Baker format makes it more challenging to put together a high score, noting that even one open frame can spell defeat. He said focus and hard work paid off.
“I think we all just put our best into it and we got what we deserved,” he said. “It showed how good we can be when we put our minds to it. We’ve progressed as a team. We got better. That really showed it.
“I honestly am proud of it. This is the greatest feeling I’ve had so far in bowling.”
McClain gave “a lot of props” to Coach Stempien.
“This is the first year we actually did something very accomplished and the first year for him as coach,” McClain said. “I think I saw a tear in his eyes after the greatest win ever.”
McClain’s morning round games of 202, 224 and 228 earned All-Catholic honors. Zack Stempien was named to the All-League team. Barr earned All-Academic recognition.
“The boys came up big when they needed to,” Coach Stempien said. “I was duly impressed. I don’t know how they’re going to top it.”
Cabrini, the Downriver area’s other team in the Catholic League, failed to make the cut in the boys tournament, but won the Tier 2 trophy in the girls’ tournament as the highest-seeded smaller school in the event.
The Monarchs – who were 10-0 in winning the West Division title during the regular season – had the fifth-best score in the morning round, 2375, but were eliminated by Livonia Ladywood.
Farmington Hills Mercy won the girls’ title, defeating Regina in the championship round.
Cabrini senior Emily Slater, who had the league’s high average, earned All-Catholic honors for her games of 233, 162 and 174 in the opening round.
Monarchs Coach Paul Ferraiulo said “the girls bowled really well.” He noted that personal-best games were turned in by Mary Goodrich (204) and Emily Gilbert (159). Goodrich, a freshman, missed the All-Catholic team by 12 pins. Megan Gilbert earned All-League recognition. Lauren Bauer was named All-Academic.
Gabriel Richard’s Stacey Connor also made the All-League team, while Ashley Boldt was All-Academic.
On the boys’ side, Cabrini’s Adam Chircop was named to the All-League team, with teammate Brendan Wilson picking up All-Academic recognition.
This weekend, both Gabriel Richard and Cabrini will compete in the state regional tournament. The Pioneers boys and girls teams will bowl in the Division 4 region at Richfield Lanes in New Lothrop. Cabrini bowls in the Division 3 region at Flat Rock Lanes.
Team competition takes place Friday; individual games are set for Saturday.
