Minerva boys bowling returns lineup poised to take next step

The Minerva boys’ bowling squad became familiar with being the runner-up last season.

First, the Lions posted an overall record 16-4 in match play while finishing second in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference’s American Division at 8-2, one game behind rival Carrollton. Then in the Eastern Buckeye Conference, the Lions narrowly placed second behind the Warriors again.

In postseason play, however, Carrollton was slotted in Div. I while Minerva, in Div. II, advanced to the District tourney at Coshocton. Did that open up a path for the Lions to advance to state? Sadly, no. In a meet in which the top two teams advanced to Columbus for the state tournament, Indian Valley and Claymont nabbed those spots, while the Lions missed the cut, finishing third.

Sure, Minerva lost some serious firepower from last season. But don’t cry for the Lions just yet.

“We lost three powerful seniors last year that helped lead us breaking a school record last year,” said sixth-year Minerva coach Nick Embrogno. “But we still have a ton of talent this year.”

Embrogno is being modest as the Lions not only set a school record, they set a Stark County record, too. In a March match, Minerva’s lineup of Owen Frazier, Xander Mueller, Kendrik Keister, Landon Jones, and Lane Hawk posted a one-game total of 1,229, toppling a 2007 school record. The Lions’ two-game total of 2,345 broke a county record set during the 2015-16 season.

But Jones, an EBC first-team selection, Mueller, an honorable mention designee, and Gage Eller have all graduated. But Frazier (209.85 average), who was named first team in the EBC, and Keister (194.22) and Hawk (187.61) – both second-team selections – are three of four returning seniors that should help the Lions again make some noise on the lanes this season.

The remaining returning letter winners are senior Parker Eckstein (172.23), who was an EBC honorable mention selection last season, and sophomore Austin Ailing (186.55).

Joining the lineup are senior Mason Arnoto and freshman Mason Horton, two bowlers Embrogno described as having “showed a lot of potential.”

Possibly echoing most bowling coaches since the dawn of the sport, Embrogno said “I am hopeful our strength will be picking up spares this year,” but other than that, he envisions a team with a high ceiling, saying, “I don’t expect many weakness as long as everyone shows up with their ‘A’ game.”

This could be the year the Minerva program exorcises those runner-up demons from last season as the Lions return a team poised to win.

“The league always has strong contenders, and we are looking forward to facing off against everyone,” said Embrogno.

Minerva’s season got underway Nov. 19 as the Lions welcomed and then promptly dispatched Massillon Washington, 2,471-1,512. Ailing logged the high game (255) and series (469), while Frazier (216-224) rolled a 440 in the non-conference dual meet.