Strike up the excitement! Jets bowling ready for a new season.

bowling pins and ball
Posted: Dec 18, 2023

Get ready for more action on the lanes as the Jets bowling teams prepare for the 2024 seasons!

With both teams finishing in the top 10 nationally – women fifth and men eighth – in 2023, Coach Steve Sears looks forward to the new season with many new faces.

"We have been very successful in previous years, winning conference titles, regional titles, numerous top 5 finishes at nationals. We are a very young team and will work hard to continue keep Jackson College at or near the top," Sears said.

Seven out of nine of the men are freshmen, and five of eight of the women's team are freshmen. The men's team welcomes back Trey Richmond (Lumen Christi) and Parker Horvath (Grass Lake). Both have worked hard during the off season, Sears said, practicing four-five days a week or more, including participating in sport shot leagues over the summer.

The women's team welcomes back returning Jets Olivia Hurd (Michigan Center) and Shailynn Walker (Stockbridge). Hurd has worked hard over the summer working on her game several days a week and participating in a PBA league. Walker is a great teammate who keeps everybody loose and doesn't let anybody get down on themselves, Coach Sears said. "Shai will do what it takes to help make us successful."

For the men's team, some new faces to watch are Mason Keene (Stockbridge) Jackson Kremer (Lumen Christi) and Logan Schneider (Napoleon). Keene and Kremer are State Champions and Schneider brings junior gold experience, bowling on many tough oil patterns qualifying for the Junior Gold Nationals numerous times. Charlie Teller (Hillsdale) is another one to watch. Teller could make an immediate impact for the Jets as well.

"They all possess the sniper mentality for spare shooting. We look for them to step up and become some of our leaders as we progress through our season," Sears said.

For the women's team, players to watch are Erin VandenBrink from (Eisenhower HS - Shelby Township), Abby Gutowski (Jonesville) and Kaelin Pond (Michigan Center). VandenBrink is a former D1 All State bowler and a transfer from Davenport University who throws the ball extremely well and has exceptional bowling knowledge, Sears said.  Gutowski is also a former All-State selection and regional champion leading Jonesville's success the last three years. Pond has been a solid, dependable force at Michigan Center and one of the top bowlers in the Cascades Conference in her junior and senior years.

"I also look for them to step up and become leaders this season for the women," Sears said.

"We always set the bar high. We practice very hard, learn everything we can and take nothing or any team for granted."

The teams kick off their 2024 season Jan. 5 at the Charger Invitational, Marian University's Ancilla College.

Rosters:

Men:

Women:

  • Abby Gutowski
  • Makenzie Lafountain
  • Haley Wallace
  • Erin VandenBrink
  • Olivia Hurd
  • Shailynn Walker
  • Kaelin Pond
  • Olivia Palmer