Dakota bowling shines at regionals, ends season at state finals

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — For the second-straight year, Macomb Dakota’s boys and girls varsity bowling teams have punched their ticket to the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 1 state finals.

It wasn’t without facing some bumps and bruises along the way, but Dakota bowling is back where it belongs on the state finals stage.

Arguably the toughest division in the state, the Macomb Area Conference-Red was a dogfight through and through this season for both sides. But when it mattered most, Dakota answered the call.

 

Dakota boys
For the most part this season, Dakota was impressive in the MAC-Red, finishing 8-2 and earning the second-place spot in the league.

Dakota finished second at the Macomb County bowling championships on Jan. 14, but senior Dylan Maurer was electric during the tournament, grabbing first place.

While Maurer took the top spot earlier this year against MAC-Red competition, it was time for another Dakota senior to earn the spotlight.

On Feb. 25 at 5 Star Lanes, senior Connor Rogus bested a field of 88 bowlers to win the MHSAA Region 4 singles championship.

Rogus said there was one major factor that assisted him in the win.

“Well, I stayed calm the whole day,” Rogus said. “That was all helped by my support system I had there. My mom, dad, dad’s girlfriend, grandparents and girlfriend all kept me in the moment and helped me stay calm. My coach always helps me keep my mind steady, and with all the help of all these people, I am able to stay mentally strong the way I do.”

Rogus is no stranger to mental toughness — after appendix surgery sidelined him this year, he found himself struggling to find a rhythm when he returned.

Battling back and finally finding his footing, Rogus went into competitions with a positive mindset, but also new mechanics along the way.

Rogus said both his physical and mental changes have been a key factor in his success.

“So I ended up changing my roll, changing the weight of my equipment, and went through a fit change,” Rogus said. “It took me a long time to get used to the changes, but once I got it figured out, it’s been paying off. Those changes will help me in the long run, especially when I bowl in college.”

Rogus is currently committed to bowl at Concordia University and has been a staple for Dakota during his four years on varsity.

Dakota coach Jason Kavanagh said his biggest contribution to the team took place off the lanes.

“In his mind, he’s taken that role on himself to address the varsity bowlers when I’m not there, and he does it with the JV kids, too, to make them feel more welcoming and a part of the team during the season,” Kavanagh said.

While Rogus secured some hardware of his own, Dakota as a team was getting the job done during the MHSAA Region 4 team finals on Feb. 24 at 5 Star Lanes.

Finishing in second place with a pin total of 3,570, 252 pins behind first-place Utica Eisenhower, Dakota secured a spot at the MHSAA Division 1 state finals.

Dakota was eliminated by Wayne Memorial High School in the round of eight this year at the MHSAA Division 1 state finals on March 3 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.

Dakota, which has qualified for their fourth-straight state finals, finished runner-up in 2021 and was eliminated in the round of eight last season at the MHSAA Division 1 state finals. But for Dakota, it was all about getting a foot in the door.

“We just wanted to get there,” Kavanagh said. “We don’t care how we have to get there, but we just wanted to get to the state finals.”

Dakota was led by Rogus, Maurer, junior Landen Moore, freshman Cole Rogus, senior Jacob Kresbaugh, junior Ryan Denyes and junior Xavier Gurd this season.

Denyes, who finished in sixth place at regionals with a 1,247 pin total, also qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 state finals alongside Rogus.

 

Dakota girls
Returning this year as the defending MHSAA Division 1 state champions, there were high expectations, but also questions, around Dakota girls bowling.

With three state finals bowlers returning and a healthy amount of youthful talent, Dakota coach Paul Price said the MHSAA Region 4 team finals on Feb. 24 at 5 Star Lanes was a test for his squad.

“Honestly, we’re a very young team this year,” Price said. “There was no sure chance of us getting a win out there, but I think we always thought we had a chance at least. The girls fought through the tough conditions because the lanes were really tough, but the girls picked up the spares and played well.”

All questions were answered as Dakota cruised to a regional championship behind a 3,064 pin total, 44 pins ahead of second-place Sterling Heights Stevenson High School.

Stevenson was a thorn in the side of not just Dakota but the entirety of the MAC-Red division, going undefeated in league play.

For Dakota, which finished third in the league with a 5-4 record, they just had to step up when it mattered most.

Senior Riley Brownrigg answered the call for Dakota, helping the team bowl a 221 in their first Bakers game.

“Riley played a huge role,” Price said. “She played all day and had an amazing day. It was just grinding nonstop. It was one of those days where you could have easily given up, but she kept her head down and kept going.”

Senior Haylie Patterson and junior Alexa Hardester, both state finals bowlers for Dakota last year alongside Brownrigg, continued to serve as the veteran anchors.

Freshman Alexis Gurd and junior Kaylee Keyes continued to be reliable, but there was one surprise star at the tournament for Dakota.

Freshman Brianne Jakuszanek, who was pulled up to varsity for regionals, shined in her role for Dakota.

“She was amazing,” Price said. “This was a freshman that was just learning how to bowl, and she bowled amazing. She’s got a bright future.”

On the individual side, Patterson (seventh) and Keyes (ninth) both qualified for states with a 1,143 and 1,108 pin total, respectively.

Dakota was eliminated in the round of eight by Holt High School at the MHSAA Division 1 state finals on March 3 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.