With ear-drum shattering applause behind them and five pins ahead of them, 100 young bowlers competed in the zone round of the annual “Four Steps to Stardom” roll-offs before a capacity crowd at Plaza Lanes here Sunday.
Twenty teams (featuring five players each) from Fort Frances, Dryden, Kenora, and Atikokan bowled from the morning to late afternoon for a chance to qualify for the provincials in North Bay next month.
And several Fort Frances bowlers already have started to pack their bags as both the senior boys’ and junior boys’ teams advanced.
The senior boys, represented by Jon Wood, Jeff Watts, Jon McCoy, Sheldon Legaree, and Tyler Good (and coached by Rick Stamarski), finished the three-game showdown with a total pinfall of 2,989—156 better than second-place Atikokan.
Dryden was third, 299 pinsoff the pace, while Kenora finished 343 pins behind the Fort Frances quintet.
Wood had the high single on the team with a 236 but it was Watts who had the best triple (658).
Meanwhile, Joey Ballan proved to be the hero for the local junior boys’ team, which also included Niko Matius, Travis Bois, Jared Morelli, and Donny Brown (and coach Jeanie Townson).
Ballan opened with an incredible 375, which included seven-straight strikes, to help his team to a 2,478 total—a mere 53 pins better than second-place Dryden.
Kenora was 126 pins back in third place while Atikokan was fourth (331 pins behind).
The local Bantam boys’ team of Dallas Gervais, Eric Bois, Jordin Jewell, Tyler Myslicki, and Brendan Morand, coached by Carolyn Stamarski, came oh so close Sunday, finishing in second place just 54 pins behind the front-running team from Dryden.
Atikokan wound up in third while Kenora was fourth.
Bois had both the high single (148) and high triple (417).
Finally, the local Bantam girls’ squad, which included Amanda Jolicoeur, Lena Morelli, Caitlyn Fletcher, Danielle Bois, and Teanna Silander (coached by Kathy Bois), finished third in their division.
Their 1,855 total was 104 behind first-place Dryden team (1,959). Kenora wound up in second while Atikokan was fourth.
D. Bois had both the high single (154) and high triple (391).
Fort Frances did not field teams in the senior and junior girls’ divisions, which were won by Dryden and Kenora, respectively.
In related news, Lyle Dolph of Fort Frances also will be going to North Bay for the provincials next month after qualifying in the singles event of the Bantam boys’ division at a tournament in Kenora in December.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
