Vikings bowling program sustaining success in MAC Gold

HAZEL PARK — Hazel Park has quietly put together one of the most consistent bowling programs on the Macomb Area Conference high school bowling scene the past two seasons.

Competing in the MAC Gold, the Vikings have earned back-to-back league titles on the girls side while the boys were caught up to speed last season, going undefeated in league play to take first in the Gold.

Doubling down on its league success, Hazel Park had impressive showings at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Regional 18 championships on both sides, punching the girls and boys Division 3 state finals tickets with third-place finishes. Both teams missed out on the top-eight advancement from the qualifying block in the state finals.

“I had a weird feeling at the beginning of the year, more with the girls than with the boys, that we might have a chance because I had those kids for a couple years, and I just had a feeling that this would be the year that one of them would take a run at the state finals,” Hazel Park coach Eric Gregory said.

The most difficult part of success, especially when you have players graduating consistently, is sustaining it, but the Vikings are showing this season that the new-found accomplishments are nothing short of sustainable.

Currently tied for first in the MAC Gold on both the boys and girls side, Hazel Park is looking to not only add another league title to its trophy room but back-to-back state finals appearances in the process.

 

Boys
Returning a state finals singles qualifier in senior Myron Pickett, Hazel Park was already on the fast track to returning to the top of the league.

Pickett is as consistent as they come, and has been since he joined the team in his sophomore year. He has only elevated his game each season.

A two-handed bowler, Pickett displays a unique style of bowling, but his 203 average this season shows that it gets the job done for him.

Pickett isn’t alone, for the Vikings have a team of solid bowlers in senior Ethan Taylor, senior Reggie Wilson, junior Isaac Venus, sophomore Preston Blaze, and freshman Amarion Brock.

Brock is currently second on the team with a 176 average after bursting onto the scene early for the Vikings.

“He (Brock) comes with a skill set where he’s been bowling for years,” Gregory said. “I haven’t had a lot of kids that have showed up with league skill, and he showed up, and a lot of these kids are bowling with these two-handed deliveries, and he bowls a lot like Myron (Pickett). They feed off of each other. He’s averaging in the 170s right now, and he’s a lot better than that.”

Brock’s appearance was vital to a Hazel Park team that graduated two key seniors last year, but Taylor, Wilson and Pickett have filled the veteran leadership roles while Venus, Blaze, and Brock continue to shine. Venus has molded into Hazel Park’s No. 3 bowler this year, holding a 163 average.

“We came into this year ready to take some more competition onto ourselves rather than being carried by the better seniors we had last year,” Blaze said. “We came in more prepared.”

Blaze specifically has elevated his game to another level, switching his ball before the start of the season.

Blaze said his feel for the game has grown considerably this year, and Gregory said he feels Blaze will be one to watch next season.

“His game has really come around this year where we’ve adjusted his stance and the way he holds the ball,” Gregory said. “He’s learning the game still, but he’s really coming along. I think next year if he keeps on this pace, he’ll have a really good season.”

The way they’re bowling, Hazel Park, currently 12-1 in the Gold, will have a clear shot at the top-three spot at the MHSAA Regional 22 championship on Feb. 22 at Richfield Bowl in Flint to earn another state finals berth, and the success is starting to get around the school.

If the boys bowling program wasn’t known before, they are now.

“We got people at the school talking about the bowling team now,” Blaze said. “It’s a really overlooked sport in high school, at least my experiences with people. We’re definitely bringing back the team and getting it around the school more.”

 

Girls
Opposite the boys team, Hazel Park girls bowling graduated their lone state finals qualifier in Shaylyn Neys.

While her presence isn’t physically with the Vikings, her role as a mentor left a lasting impression on the squad coming into this season.

“She was a big mentor to me, especially when I came into the bowling team,” junior Kathryn Chappell said. “I was the only freshman, but she brought me to the team and made me feel welcomed.”

Chappell has picked up right where Neys left off, leading the team with a 161 average and filling the void as a veteran leader alongside senior Amanda Glantz, a three-year varsity bowler, and junior Layla Shoulders.

Currently 11-1 in the league and vying for another state finals appearance, Gregory said the girls are playing with a whole different type of confidence.

“They started out this season asking where we were going to have dinner at the state finals this year,” Gregory said. “I said, ‘Guys, it ain’t that easy.’ They are really excited.”

With Chappell and Shoulders, who is currently second on the team with a 152 average, leading the way, the Vikings may be making a dinner reservation sooner rather than later.

Hazel Park suffered its only league loss to New Haven, which is currently tied with Hazel Park for first, on Jan. 24, but it was a night and day difference on Feb. 2 as Hazel Park cruised past New Haven 27-3.

“They came out ready to go, and it was really nice to see,” Gregory said. “A lot of times it’s like they’re just here to bowl and they’re going to try, but you could tell that they knew we needed this one.”

Hazel Park will look to secure its third-consecutive league title and second-straight state finals appearance as they wrap up league play on Feb. 19 against Eastpointe before competing in the MHSAA Regional 22 championship on Feb. 22 at Richfield Bowl in Flint.