Local boys bowlers excel in MHSAA postseason

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

Utica High’s boys bowling team stepped out of the shadows of its rivals and grabbed the spotlight on the lanes during the Michigan High School Athletic Association postseason.

After finishing second, behind Warren De La Salle and ahead of Macomb Dakota in the Feb. 26 Division 1 regional at 5-Star Lanes in Sterling Heights, the team advanced to the state finals for the first time.

In the final, held March 5 at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek, the Chieftains fell just shy of advancing to the knockout round. Utica finished 11th out of 18 teams during the initial qualifying competition, just missing out on the cut of the top eight teams moving on to the quarterfinals.

Utica coach Jim Rochon said he was more than pleased with his squad’s effort in the postseason.

“I am very proud of the entire team,” he said. “The boy’s varsity team performed extremely well at regionals. I knew in the fall that they had the talent needed for a successful season and the potential to do well.”

Rochon was especially happy for the team because of the competition it had to get past at regionals. Utica Stevenson advanced from the regional to win the state title last year, while Dakota ended up as the state runner-up this season behind Novi-Detroit Catholic Central.

“Our region has some of the best teams in the state, which makes the event very competitive,” Rochon said. “Placing in the top three was very rewarding from a coach’s perspective and a great confidence builder for the bowlers.”

The coach added that the team improved throughout the season, going 7-3 to take second place in the tough Macomb Area Conference Red Division.

“All of the tournaments that we participate in help us to prepare for regionals,” he said. “Each time we finished in the top five, it continued to build the team’s confidence.”

Rochon said getting in plenty of practice time and into the right state of mind helped the team advance to states and reach its potential.

“Being prepared and practice, practice, practice,” he said, referring to the keys to success. “We encouraged them to keep in mind the goal of heading to states, and they knew they needed to perform at the top of their game at regionals to do this. 

Rochon also credited assistant coaches John Mazza and Jim Magolan with sharing some “great insight” with the team and helping them out.

Individually, Utica’s Brent Pawlicki and Nick Zambelli qualified for the state meet after finishing second and third at regionals, respectively. Joining them was regional champion Casey Schinel of Utica Eisenhower.

Pawlicki and Zambelli both qualified for the individual round of 16 at states March 6 — also held at M-66 Bowl — but were edged out by their opponents. Schinel did not qualify for the round of 16, finishing 42nd among the talented group of 60 boys D-1 state finalists.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.