By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Fraser-Clinton Chronicle | Published January 24, 2024
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — For the past three years, the Macomb Area Conference Red league has been as consistent as they come.
Whether it was Utica Eisenhower or Macomb Dakota, one out of the two schools would claim the league title while the other filled out the second slot.
For Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, it was either being in the middle of the pack or somewhere near the basement of the MAC Red.
Only this year, Chippewa Valley holds the advantage over Dakota and Eisenhower in one particular area.
“Fortunately, we have the most experience because it’s all seniors,” Chippewa Valley second-year coach Phil Pomante said. “A couple of the programs have seniors here and there, but with us having six seniors it’s definitely a benefit.”
Chippewa Valley flexed their muscles early with a convincing 20-10 win on Dec. 4 over defending MAC Red title winner Eisenhower as senior Antonio Costa rolled a two-game score of 461 while senior Dylan Gilbert added a 438 in the win.
Since Week 1, it’s been all Chippewa Valley as they remain unbeaten in the league, holding first place with a 6-0 record in the MAC Red with wins over both Eisenhower and Dakota. The Big Reds also took home first in the MAC Red team tournament on Jan. 21 at Imperial Lanes, edging Eisenhower, Dakota and the rest of the league.
Senior team captain Owen DiBucci said the wins have shown the team’s true potential this season.
“For the past couple years, Ike (Eisenhower) and Dakota have been really dominating the MAC,” DiBucci said. “This year, I feel like it’s really our time to shine. When we came out Week 1 and beat Ike, it really made a headline saying, ‘Hey, we’re not small anymore. We’re competitive now.’ I think something that’s really helped us is that we know we’re a competitive team and that we can compete with the best out there.”
From top to bottom, Chippewa Valley’s six-man rotation has played a vital role in the early-going success as DiBucci (208), Gilbert (220) and senior David Lambert (204) all carry an average over 200 while Costa (192), senior Connor Allen (191) and senior Anthony Russell (176) are all within 25 pins of the double century mark.
The Big Reds have carried over their league-winning success to the tournament level, earning second at the Dakota Cougar Classic on Dec. 9 at Imperial Lanes. DiBucci has made a living off of weekend play, finishing runner-up at the Dakota Cougar Classic and the Macomb L’Anse Creuse North Singles Invitational.
DiBucci credits the improvements to his mental game for the early success this season.
“During the offseason, I really noticed that I struggled with consistency, spare shooting, and just the overall headspace I put myself in last year,” DiBucci said. “What I worked on was both my physical and my mental game. I know that bowling is a physical and mental game, so I just worked on spares in the offseason and really just what I think of overall. Last year, I always thought to myself that I needed to hit this or that, but this year I’ve really taken a step back and really analyzed it. All I’m doing is saying to myself, ‘If I’m in the pocket and I’m throwing a good ball, I can’t get mad at myself.’ I just need to hit the spare and move on.”
Along with DiBucci, there’s a more relaxed feel with the team this season, especially now that the bowlers are adjusted to Pomante and how he operates.
Bowling has become a sanctuary for the Big Reds, and they’re playing like they’re kicked back with their feet up.
“It’s a really good community, especially with coach Phil (Pomante) being there,” DiBucci said. “He’s always making us laugh and feel comfortable. One thing that bowling has really done for us is become a home away from home. Coach Phil mentioned that we have so much going on in our lives, so bowling is a place to just have fun. I think what really makes it fun for us is that we all know each other on a personal level outside of school.”
While also helping to create a comfortable environment, Pomante, an established bowler himself on the Midwest Scratch Bowling Series, has been doing everything he can to help his bowlers perfect their art in the alley.
Pomante emphasizes the importance of repetition and how even though bowlers may have different styles, the idea is consistency with their delivery.
“Everybody’s got their own way of throwing the ball and going about it, but I just try to drive home that they have to do whatever is comfortable, but it has to be repetitive,” Pomante said. “It’s got to be something they do over and over again. It’s definitely made a big difference in not only shot making, but them making any spares has gone drastically up from where we were last year.”
A senior-led group is a major advantage in a varsity season, but there’s always the sense of urgency in the program to make sure the final year is one to remember.
Chippewa Valley last won a MAC Red title in the 2016-2017 season, so a league win would certainly be something to write home about.
Regardless, the Big Reds seniors are giving their final curtain call everything they’ve got before it’s all said and done.
“One of the main things I think really encouraged us to be good this season was the fact that it’s our final year, and for most of us it might be our last time bowling together as a team in this team-competitive arena,” Pomante said. “I think it just puts a fire underneath us to be the best we can bowl because we know for some of us, we don’t have another year to bowl, so I think it really sparked something in us to go out and hope to win a state title this year.”