By Ron Ropp
LocalSportsJournal.com
Mona Shores junior Derek Kern was heading into the biggest bowling match of the year.
He was beaming with confidence in hopes of reaching the MHSAA state finals in singles competition for the first time in his prep career.
You couldn’t blame him. Some early-season struggles were a thing of the past, he was bowling at a 194 average and, best of all, he was feeling good about bowling regionals at his home alley at Sherman Bowling Center.
He knew full well he needed to average 200, or more, per game in the six-game set in order to have a chance at making it to state.
And what did he do in the opening game?
He rolled a 132.
“I was definitely using the wrong ball,” said Kern, who is more than just a bowler, but a student of the game of bowling. “It was playing a little tighter than usual and that’s what caused the 132 and I missed a couple of spares too.”
You wouldn’t blame a high school kid for losing his composure and think he was in deep trouble.
“I was thinking that a little bit, but I made sure to keep my composure,” Kern said. “I knew there were still five games left for qualifying. I try not to look at the score sheet every time.”
Not to worry, Kern was confident he could get back into it with a strong mindset and a ball change.
And what did he do in the second game?
He rolled the first 300 of his career.
“I made a ball change, which happened to be the correct ball,” said Kern. “And I bowled a 300. It was my first one with hopefully many more to come.
“I was making really good shots and the lanes were playing pretty well for me,” said Kern, who moved seven boards left with his feet and five boards left with his eyes. “There were definitely a few lucky shots in there.”
“That’s what we coach the kids,” said Mona Shores coach Ron Bacon. “That first game is gone. There’s nothing you can do about it. I don’t think he was at all concerned about bowling that 132. We’ve seen it before where he’s bowled a low game then come back strong.”
Kern followed the 300 with games of 190, 222, 220 and 178 to finish the six-game set with a 1,242. That put him in third place and into the state meet on his third attempt.
“The beginning of the third game I kind of had like a ‘300-game trauma’ so I made a few bad shots,” Kern said. “But then, after it happened, I started throwing better shots and bowled the 190.”
At the state meet, the following week at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Kern made his first-ever appearance. While he didn’t finish among the top 16 qualifiers, he did have a solid day with an 1,180 for six games. That put him 23rd in the standings, just 20 pins from making the cut and moving into the match play portion of the event.
“I was 23rd, but even still, that’s really good because the cut was really close,” Kern said. “I felt pretty good physically and probably not good decision making on what ball I was using, for sure.
That’s what probably led me to miss the cut by 20.”
“That whole lineup down there was very competitive,” Bacon said. “Look at the top 40 and those scores ... Division 1 is very competitive.”
It was the experience he garnered during his freshman and sophomore years that helped Kern enjoy success in this year’s regional and state meets.
“It’s been a very good experience, especially as a freshman,” said Kern, who was 14th as a freshman at regionals. “The sophomore year I definitely had trouble with what ball to use. It was just hard for me to find a good line. For me, at least.”
Kern averaged a 194 this season, which was down from the 200 average he carried last season as a sophomore.
“I had a pretty slow start this season,” said Kern, who missed the first two matches due to illness. “Then, after that, it’s been smooth sailing. It was a pretty good season, I’d say.”
With experience, Kern has been able to adjust his game whether it be a ball change or a change in his foot position or his target.
Kern, who has been a two-handed bowler since he picked up the game at the age of 10, is confident in his ability to adjust his hand positions in order to throw a straighter ball or put a big hook on it. That’s where the student of the game comes in for Kern.
“My inspiration was I saw a video of (pro bowler) Jason Belmonte throwing it with two hands and I thought it was pretty cool,” Kern said. “I tried it and I had fun. I just kept doing it.”
He also picked up valuable tips and other bowling information from YouTube videos. Add in coaching from Josh Kohlbeck at Sherman Bowling Center and Kern was on his way to becoming a serious bowler.
“I think being a two-hander is probably harder to learn,” Kern said. “There are a lot of pros and cons. With the two hands, you get more power and rev so that’s an advantage for sure.”
“He puts so much time and effort into what he’s doing and he’s not like any high school bowler I’ve seen,” Bacon said. “He is a student, and actually a coach, of the game. He’s a joy to be
around and you learn from watching Derek.
“He is way ahead of his time,” Bacon said. “He reads stuff, he watches other people and he really enjoys working with Josh at Sherman.”
The plan, as of right now, is for Kern to take his bowling skills to Davenport University to continue his academics and, of course, his bowling. He’s already had a taste of the college regimen.
There are about three four-hour days per week with workouts in the gym, classroom time to discuss the finer points of the game and practice at the lanes.
In the meantime, Kern plans to enter some tournaments in hopes of honing his skills and facing some stiff competition as he prepares for the college season. And, maybe even earn a little prize money that would go into a fund to help pay for his college expenses down the road.
Not only is Kern looking forward to a busy summer on the lanes, but there is plenty of optimism for the Sailors to be strong again next year.
“Hopefully, we get a couple more people that come in,” said Kern.
“It’s great coaching him and the team that he’s on,” Bacon said. “I’m happy about next year. I’m already looking forward to next season.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
Mona Shores junior Derek Kern was heading into the biggest bowling match of the year.
He was beaming with confidence in hopes of reaching the MHSAA state finals in singles competition for the first time in his prep career.
You couldn’t blame him. Some early-season struggles were a thing of the past, he was bowling at a 194 average and, best of all, he was feeling good about bowling regionals at his home alley at Sherman Bowling Center.
He knew full well he needed to average 200, or more, per game in the six-game set in order to have a chance at making it to state.
And what did he do in the opening game?
He rolled a 132.
“I was definitely using the wrong ball,” said Kern, who is more than just a bowler, but a student of the game of bowling. “It was playing a little tighter than usual and that’s what caused the 132 and I missed a couple of spares too.”
You wouldn’t blame a high school kid for losing his composure and think he was in deep trouble.
“I was thinking that a little bit, but I made sure to keep my composure,” Kern said. “I knew there were still five games left for qualifying. I try not to look at the score sheet every time.”
Not to worry, Kern was confident he could get back into it with a strong mindset and a ball change.
And what did he do in the second game?
He rolled the first 300 of his career.
“I made a ball change, which happened to be the correct ball,” said Kern. “And I bowled a 300. It was my first one with hopefully many more to come.
“I was making really good shots and the lanes were playing pretty well for me,” said Kern, who moved seven boards left with his feet and five boards left with his eyes. “There were definitely a few lucky shots in there.”
“That’s what we coach the kids,” said Mona Shores coach Ron Bacon. “That first game is gone. There’s nothing you can do about it. I don’t think he was at all concerned about bowling that 132. We’ve seen it before where he’s bowled a low game then come back strong.”
Kern followed the 300 with games of 190, 222, 220 and 178 to finish the six-game set with a 1,242. That put him in third place and into the state meet on his third attempt.
“The beginning of the third game I kind of had like a ‘300-game trauma’ so I made a few bad shots,” Kern said. “But then, after it happened, I started throwing better shots and bowled the 190.”
At the state meet, the following week at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Kern made his first-ever appearance. While he didn’t finish among the top 16 qualifiers, he did have a solid day with an 1,180 for six games. That put him 23rd in the standings, just 20 pins from making the cut and moving into the match play portion of the event.
“I was 23rd, but even still, that’s really good because the cut was really close,” Kern said. “I felt pretty good physically and probably not good decision making on what ball I was using, for sure.
That’s what probably led me to miss the cut by 20.”
“That whole lineup down there was very competitive,” Bacon said. “Look at the top 40 and those scores ... Division 1 is very competitive.”
It was the experience he garnered during his freshman and sophomore years that helped Kern enjoy success in this year’s regional and state meets.
“It’s been a very good experience, especially as a freshman,” said Kern, who was 14th as a freshman at regionals. “The sophomore year I definitely had trouble with what ball to use. It was just hard for me to find a good line. For me, at least.”
Kern averaged a 194 this season, which was down from the 200 average he carried last season as a sophomore.
“I had a pretty slow start this season,” said Kern, who missed the first two matches due to illness. “Then, after that, it’s been smooth sailing. It was a pretty good season, I’d say.”
With experience, Kern has been able to adjust his game whether it be a ball change or a change in his foot position or his target.
Kern, who has been a two-handed bowler since he picked up the game at the age of 10, is confident in his ability to adjust his hand positions in order to throw a straighter ball or put a big hook on it. That’s where the student of the game comes in for Kern.
“My inspiration was I saw a video of (pro bowler) Jason Belmonte throwing it with two hands and I thought it was pretty cool,” Kern said. “I tried it and I had fun. I just kept doing it.”
He also picked up valuable tips and other bowling information from YouTube videos. Add in coaching from Josh Kohlbeck at Sherman Bowling Center and Kern was on his way to becoming a serious bowler.
“I think being a two-hander is probably harder to learn,” Kern said. “There are a lot of pros and cons. With the two hands, you get more power and rev so that’s an advantage for sure.”
“He puts so much time and effort into what he’s doing and he’s not like any high school bowler I’ve seen,” Bacon said. “He is a student, and actually a coach, of the game. He’s a joy to be
around and you learn from watching Derek.
“He is way ahead of his time,” Bacon said. “He reads stuff, he watches other people and he really enjoys working with Josh at Sherman.”
The plan, as of right now, is for Kern to take his bowling skills to Davenport University to continue his academics and, of course, his bowling. He’s already had a taste of the college regimen.
There are about three four-hour days per week with workouts in the gym, classroom time to discuss the finer points of the game and practice at the lanes.
In the meantime, Kern plans to enter some tournaments in hopes of honing his skills and facing some stiff competition as he prepares for the college season. And, maybe even earn a little prize money that would go into a fund to help pay for his college expenses down the road.
Not only is Kern looking forward to a busy summer on the lanes, but there is plenty of optimism for the Sailors to be strong again next year.
“Hopefully, we get a couple more people that come in,” said Kern.
“It’s great coaching him and the team that he’s on,” Bacon said. “I’m happy about next year. I’m already looking forward to next season.”
