High school bowlers to watch across metro Detroit

Utica Eisenhower senior Dylan Harnden celebrates winning the MHSAA Division 1 individual state championship with his head coach — and father — Mark Harnden.

Photo provided by Mark Harnden.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview senior Josh Ciegotura walks back after a shot.

Photo by Patricia O'Blenes.

METRO – The Michigan High School Athletic Association boys and girls bowling season has started, and there’s plenty of talent to keep an eye on.

Macomb County bowling continues to flex its muscles, especially in the state tournament, but Oakland County returns a talented group in its own right.

Below are players to watch across the C & G Newspapers coverage area.

Senior Dylan Harnden, Utica-Eisenhower

2023-2024 average: 223

As one of the more decorated bowlers on the high school scene, the returning MHSAA Division 1 singles state champion is looking to solidify a dominant high school career in his final season.

Harnden, looking to defend both his singles state and regional championship, has been a history-making bowler for the Eagles, becoming the first bowler in school history to win a singles state championship.

A mainstay on the varsity squad for four years, Harnden, a first team all-State honoree, has helped Eisenhower become a perennial Division 1 state threat, winning two Macomb Area Conference Red league titles and finishing state runner-up in 2022. Harnden was also voted MAC Red MVP last season.

His accomplishments aren’t limited to just the high school scene, for Harnden has titles in both the Midwest Scratch Bowling Series and the Michigan Junior Masters Association while making the Developmental Junior Team USA 2024, which holds some of the top bowlers across the nation.

It’s a great milestone toward his Olympic aspirations, but he’s still got one more high school season to show why he’s the top bowler in the state.

Senior Jonathan Zaitouna, Troy Athens

2023-2024 average: 189

The Oakland Activities Association can get overlooked at times because of how strong the MAC is, but Troy Athens stands out in the crowd thanks to Zaitouna.

The incoming senior not only captured first in the OAA Singles Tournament last season, but was a state qualifier after finishing sixth at regionals.

Zaitouna helped the Red Hawks finish second as a team at regionals, which beat out heavyweight teams such as Utica Eisenhower and Lake Orion, and qualify for states.

Athens also finished second at the Oakland County Bowling Tournament with Zaitouna earning fifth overall.

The momentum is at an all-time high for not just Zaitouna, but Athens as well. The Red Hawks return a strong core for the 2024-2025 campaign, and it will be exciting to see how Zaitouna builds on his impressive performance last year, which hopefully includes him successfully defending his OAA Singles Tournament championship.

Junior Cole Rogus, Macomb Dakota

2023-2024 average: 225

As one of the stronger bowlers in the 2026 class, Rogus finds a way to shine in a Dakota team loaded with talented bowlers.

Since his freshman season, Rogus captivated Macomb County bowling’s attention, and not just because he was the younger brother of Dakota star bowler Connor Rogus, but also because he was just that impressive early on.

His game has only elevated since his freshman year, and a first team all-County and first team all-State nod last year proves it.

Rogus helped lead Dakota to a team regional title and finished regional runner-up, qualifying him for the individual state finals where he reached the top-16 as the 10th seed.

With two more years of varsity bowling still left in him, the sky is the limit for the Cougars junior sensation based on what he’s already showcased at the varsity level.

Sophomore Ava Mazza, Utica-Eisenhower

2023-2024 average: 202

This girl is going to be a problem for years to come.

As a freshman, Mazza exploded onto the scene, helping Utica win the MAC White and qualify for the state finals for the first time since 2017.

Mazza, the individual regional champion, was crowned the MAC White MVP, and she earned first team all-State and first team all-County honors while also qualifying for the state finals individually, reaching the semifinals.

Utica brought home the regional title and earned the first seed at the state finals, making it to the semifinals as well.

She’s already made a name for herself outside of the high school scene, winning tournaments on the Michigan Junior Masters Association and Midwest Scratch Bowling Series, but she’s already within arm’s reach of being a state champion at the high school level.

Utica shocked Division 1 bowling when it burst onto the scene and finished the year ranked as the No. 3 team in Division 1, but should be even stronger this season as they merge with reigning MAC Red champion Utica Eisenhower..

They’re youthful and they’re energized with all the confidence at their fingertips right now, and Mazza is just one of many girls Utica-Eisenhower will throw at you on any given night.

Sophomore Lauren Zalenski, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North

2023-2024 average: 191

Another freshman phenom last season, Zalenski helped pave the way for L’Anse Creuse North to punch its state finals ticket as a team and hold its own in a brutal MAC Red league.

The varsity newcomer earned second team all-State and all-County honors after winning the individual regional title and reaching the top-16 qualifying block at states as a 10th seed.

Unfortunately she had to face junior Grace Polega of Utica Ford, a first team all-State honoree herself, in the first round, but Zalenski showed more than enough to know she’s one of the top bowlers in Macomb County.

The Macomb County bowling scene is tough enough as a junior or senior bowler, so to flex your muscles, and this goes for Mazza as well, as a freshman, it speaks volumes to how strong of a bowler you really are.

Zalenski’s 191 average led the team last season, but there may be more applied pressure on the young bowler with two senior all-County bowlers now graduated.

If her freshman year showed anything, it’s that Zalenski doesn’t seem to be fazed by the spotlight in any capacity.

Sophomore Sara Augustitus, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore

2023-2024 average: 193

How she didn’t receive an all-State honor for her performance last season makes you feel like someone dropped the ball at that one, but regardless Augustitus quickly made the MAC Red hers last season.

Winning MAC Red MVP and earning the individual regional championship, the first team all-County honoree shined for the Shorians, who won the regional team title and finished ninth at the Division 2 state finals out of 16 teams.

Augustitus has already dominated on the Michigan Junior Masters Association stage, bringing home gold at the 2024 Hammer Thunderbowl Classic in early October.

She joins elite company in the 2028 class of bowlers, but she’s finding a way to stick out in the crowded room.

The state qualifier will look to improve on last season’s success and take her progression to the state finals stage, where she finished 41st out of 56 bowlers.

Other bowlers around the state to watch:

Boys

Kingston Corpuz, Utica-Eisenhower

Josh Ciegotura, St. Clair Shores Lakeview

Nolan Pepper, Madison Heights Lamphere

Nicholas Weidenbach, Madison Heights Lamphere

Nolan Grems, Madison Heights Bishop Foley

Brayden Lewis, Warren Cousino

Charles McSwain Jr., Warren Woods Tower

Reece Dyrval, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore

Noah Rourk, Troy Athens

Girls