Boys bowling: Wadsworth breaks through for SL title

AKRON — It took 11 years, but the Wadsworth boys bowling program now owns a Suburban League championship. Second at the preseason tournament, which counts 20% toward the overall title, and guaranteed at least a tie for first in the regular season, which counts 60%, the Grizzlies finished fourth Saturday at the postseason tourney, which also counts 20%, to lock up the overall SL crown at Station 300. "It feels pretty darn good," said George Steele, the only coach the Grizzlies have ever had since the school began sponsoring the sport. "We worked all season for it. It's too bad today wasn't one of those days where we came out and dominated, but you know what? Winning a Suburban League title is a marathon, not a sprint." Highland, which could tie for the regular-season crown if Wadsworth suffers upset losses in its final two matches, was third at the 14-team postseason tournament and was second in the final overall standings. Cuyahoga Falls won the tournament Saturday with a total pinfall of 4,037 to finish fourth overall, followed by Twinsburg (3,964, 3rd overall), the Hornets (3,834, 2nd overall) and Grizzlies (3,647, 1st). The event consisted of three individual games and five Baker games. In the 13-team girls race, Nordonia finished first in the postseason event with a pinfall of 3,475, just as it did in the preseason tourney. Wadsworth was second for the second time with 3,289, but the Grizzlies can still win the regular-season and overall league title if they upset the Knights in a winner-take-all dual match Tuesday at Kolony Bowl. "It's definitely going to be competitive," said Wadsworth's Aubrey Masuda, who finished third individually Saturday with a 570 three-game series (183-178-209) after winning the event as a freshman. "Me and my girls are going to treat it like it's a regular match and bowl our greatest, but they have an amazing team." Individually, Highland senior Thomas Nhok finished third with a career-high 701 series (227-225-237), while teammate Lucas Less continued his great run with a fifth-place 650 series (236-222-192). Wadsworth's Hayden Eagon-Mohlmaster was sixth with a 649 (237-232-180). Cuyahoga Falls' Jonathan Rasch topped the field with an outstanding 750 series that included a 290 in his final game. "I was very consistent today," Nhok said. "The lanes changed a little and I had to move a little left, but it was mostly the same all day. During practice I switched bowling balls, found a good line and had a pretty good shot all day. Even when I threw a bad ball, it found the pocket." The Hornets also got a 553 (235-162-156) from Tyler Oboy, a 526 from Davis Slatkovsky (177-172-177) and a 524 (182-150-192) from Gracie Dunne, who would have finished eighth in the girls field, but they got even more from Less, who got to bowl all three games because Gabe Kasper missed the event due to a previous commitment. Like Nhok, Less switched balls during practice. "I'm not sure if I've ever bowled three games before," said the rapidly improving sophomore, who converted the 4-7-10 split in the 10th frame of his third game. "I felt great and I was more consistent than normal. I slowed down my shot and found more of my form. That made me more accurate throwing the ball instead of just chucking it." Eagon-Mohlmaster got help from teammates Nate Weyand (531, 174-170-187) and Cayden Sponslor (181, 248 games), but the sophomore left-hander was the Grizzlies' most consistent bowler. "Today felt pretty great, honestly," he said. "I didn't have to do anything until the third game, but once my spot dried up it was horrible. I just wanted to keep it a little bit clean in the third game." As for Wadsworth winning the overall league crown for the first time, Eagon-Mohlmaster said, "It feels amazing. Bowling in general this year has been great. For our seniors to get a Suburban League title in their last year, it has to feel really great for them." In addition to Masuda, the Wadsworth girls got a great day from senior Cece Craig, who shot a 566 series (184-157-225) to finish fourth individually. Nordonia's Kaitlyn McNutt topped the field with a 663 series. "During practice this week (assistant coach) Chris (Steele) and I tried something different with my release," Craig said. "We worked on following through with my thumb up, because that's what makes my ball hook." A fourth-year high school bowler, Craig's 225 game was the first 200 of her career. She doubled and got eight pins on her fill ball in the 10th frame, but had no idea what she needed to reach the magic number. "I don't really know how the scores work," she said with a laugh. "I just knew I needed to have a big frame and it would all work out. Making the (top-five) all-tournament team was a goal for me, so fourth place is very exciting." The diminutive Masuda, whose bodyweight is still in double digits, was a spare-shooting machine until stringing four strikes in her final game. "It was a big ball switch," she said of finally starting to carry. "I was chasing it left until I hit the pocket. I also executed and dialed it in." The Grizzlies, who bowled with Nordonia and were well behind everyone else because their initial lanes broke down, also got solid days from Addy Martin (464, 143-160-161), Amelia Lutz (460, 135-166-159) and Cassidy Myers (447, 154-136-157). Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.