MICHAEL KOVALSKI

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Michael Kovalski has only been bowling for four years. However, he has proven to be a quick learner.

The sophomore-to-be at Buckeye Local in the fall, Kovalski has qualified for the Jr. Gold National Tournament to be held in Green Bay, Wis., on July 11-19. The event will utilize The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay and Dale’s Weston Lanes in nearby Weston.

Kovalski, who qualified the the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Division II Tournament this past season, qualified for the nationals earlier this summer in Akron.

He will compete in the 15U age bracket, which will feature 750 participants.

“I’ll try to do my best and make a few cuts,” Kovalski said.

Kovalski said he got his start in bowling when a league started doing a Thursday bowling club.

“I thought I would try it and it took off. I really enjoy bowling and it’s a big part of my life,” he said.

That was four years ago. Two years ago he switched styles and hasn’t missed a beat.

“I switched styles two years ago. I used to bowl with the standard one hand, but switched to using both. I did a lot better with two hands and that is the way I’m bowling now,” he explained. “A lot more bowlers use the two-hand approach now than used to. It’s hard to learn, but once you figure it out, it’s easier to get better scores.”

He said the experience at the state tournament should help him relax at the nationals.

“I think competing at the state level will help a lot in this tournament. It won’t be new to me because I’ve experienced it before,” he noted. “It won’t be as nerve-wracking. It should be a lot smoother.”

Kovalski averaged 193 this past season for the Panthers, something that his coach Jerad Call said is “exceptional” for a freshman.

“He is probably the best freshman bowler in the Ohio Valley,” Buckeye Local head bowling coach Jerad Call said. “He had a fantastic season for us just being a freshman.”

Kovalski earned all-OVAC, all-Buckeye 8 and was a District Tournament qualifier.

“It surprised me when I qualified for states. I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” he admitted. “I thought I’d be lucky to make districts.”

His goals?

“I hope to qualify for states in my next three years of high school, and place better than I did this year.”

Kovalski gave praise to his coaches for all their work with him.

“I’d like to thank my coaches, Call and Fabry. They’ve been with me from the start and I have learned a lot from them,” he said. “They are good people and I think that helped me stick with it. Having good people around you makes things go a lot easier.

Kovalski said he rolled a 299 game about two months ago while practicing for the nationals.

At the nationals, he will receive three days of 40-minute practice sessions before competing. The first four days he will bowl four games a day for a total of 16. Cuts will then be made.

“I’m hoping for the best. I’m going to keep practicing until we leave.”

Kovalski also wanted to give a shoutout to St. Clair Lanes.

“I want to thank Gary Holubeck and St. Clair Lanes for all the practice time and support they’ve given me. It’s been wonderful.”