Prairie Boys Bowling

Fiala named top bowler in Valley Division

Cedar Rapids Washington junior Quincy Bruce nabbed a couple of top honors Friday.

Bruce was named the Athlete of the Year in the Mississippi Valley Conference (Mississippi Division) and on the all-Metro team in a vote by coaches.

Prairie's Brogan Fiala also reaped a top honor. He was named the Athlete of the Year in the MVC Valley Division.

Bruce averaged 219.3 pins per game and led the Warriors to a Class 2A state tournament berth. Fiala had a 219.4 average and helped the Hawks to a 2A berth.

Justin Wyant of Linn-Mar, Zach Trcka of Jefferson, and Brandon Wagner of Prairie joined Bruce and Fiala on both the MVC and all-Metro first teams.

Dreyson Robe of Linn-Mar was first team all-MVC. Jeremy Cline of Prairie was first team all-Metro.

Washington's Monica Reeves was named Coach of the Year in the MVC Mississippi Division. Prairie's Don Wilfong and Kevin Cline earned the honor in the MVC Valley Division. Cline and Xavier's Russ Camacho were the Metro Coaches of the Year.

ALL-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

FIRST TEAM: Quincy Bruce* (CRW), Austin Kibler* (ICH), Clayton Cole (DS), Dreyson Robe (LM), Justin Wyant (LM), Michael Greve (WW).

SECOND TEAM: Danny Behning (DS), Nate Oertel (DS), Seth Tegtmeier (LM), Michael Bracken (WW), AJ Gregory (DW), Alex Timmerman (DW).

HONORABLE MENTION: Troy McKiernan (CRK), Kyle Custer (CRK), Kyle Kaness (CRW), Mac Kaune (CRW), Zach Blum (DS), Austin Riedl (DS), Jack Hoy (DW), Joel Schmidt (DW), Kolby Melsha (ICH), Eric Kenney (ICH), Tristan Stevens (LM), Matt Wheaton (LM), Cameron Walker (WW), Josh Sorenson (WW).

ALL-ACADEMIC: Jared Poole (CRK), Gabe Miller (CRW), Ian Wedemeier (CRW), Matt Parker (DS), Danny Behning (DS), Jack Hoy (DW), Joel Schmidt (DW), Sam Dennis (ICH), Eric Kenney (ICH), Austin Swanson (LM), Matt Wheaton (LM), Nicholas Payton (WW), Michael Bracken (WW).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Quincy Bruce (CRW)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Monica Reeves (CRW)

VALLEY DIVISION

FIRST TEAM: Phil Breitbach* (DH), Brogan Fiala (CRP), Brandon Wagner (CRP), Austin Massey (DH), Jeff McCann (WE), Zach Trcka (CRJ).

SECOND TEAM: Brandon Kohl (DH), Andrew Gonner (DH), Jeremy Cline (CRP), Justin Weber (WE), Kyle Elliott (CRX), Michael Kilts (CRJ).

HONORABLE MENTION: Shane Sears (CF), Tyler Pyle (CF), Will James (CRJ), Christian Hindt (CRJ), Chase Bicket (CRP), Josh Kacena (CRP), Logan Buschette (CRX), Zach Klemish (CRX), Alex Kenniker (DH), Kevin Scheffert (DH), Eric Vidhamali (ICW), Joe Eckrich (ICW), Collin Weber (WE), Elliott Thompson (WE).

ALL-ACADEMIC: Alex Hill (CF), Tyler Pyle (CF), Michael Kilts (CRJ), Dillon Maxson (CRJ), Jeremy Cline (CRP), Mitchell Huss (CRX), Logan Buschette (CRX), Kyle Vanderlee (DH), Austin Massey (DH), Nathan Peterson (ICW), Trent Kreiss (ICW), Justin Galloway (WE), Dakota Fontes (WE).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Brogan Fiala (CRP)

COACHES OF THE YEAR: Don Wilfong and Kevin Cline (CRP)

ALL-METRO

FIRST TEAM: Quincy Bruce (CRW), Brandon Wagner (CRP), Brogan Fiala (CRP), Jeremy Cline (CRP), Justin Wyant (LM), Zach Trcka (CRJ).

SECOND TEAM: Chase Bicket (CRP), Josh Kacena (CRP), Kyle Elliott (CRX), Dreyson Robe (LM), Michael Kilts (CRJ), Will James (CRJ).

HONORABLE MENTION: Seth Tegtmeier (LM), Tristan Stevens (LM), Austin Kluth (CRJ), Christian Hindt (CRJ), Troy McKiernan (CRK), Kyle Custer (CRK), Colin Elkin (CRW), Jay Niblick (CRW), Zach Bolton (CRP), Nick Blood (CRP), Jason Beer (CRX), Kirby Guge (CRX), Peter Rethwisch (Marion), Russell Clayton (Marion).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Quincy Bruce (CRW)

COACHES OF THE YEAR: Kevin Cline (CRP) and Russ Camacho (CRX)

* -- Unanimous selection

Disappointing end for Prairie boys bowlers

DES MOINES -- Ceedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Rapids Washington finished ninth and 10th, respectively, Friday in the Class 2A state bowling tournament.

Dubuque Hempstead won the championship with a score of 3313. Des Moines Lincoln was second with 3262, followed by Ottumwa (3256), Clinton (3240) and Marshalltown (3222). Prairie had 2969 and Washington 2879.

Cody Taylor of Marshalltown was the individual champion, rolling a three-game series of 764. He rolled a 276 in his final game to claim victory.

Prairie senior Brogan Fiala finished 11th with a two-game series of 452, missing by three pins qualifying for the individual finals.

Fiala was the top Metro finisher. Washington's Kyle Kaness was right behind him with a 450 that included a 257 game.

Davenport North's Austin LaMaack rolled a 300 game.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Dubuque Hempstead 3313, 2. DM Lincoln 3262, 3. Ottumwa 3256, 4. Clinton 3240, 5. Marshalltown 3222, 6. Waterloo East 3219, 7. Davenport North 3144, 8. Fort Dodge 3038, 9. CR Prairie 2969, 10. CR Washington 2879.

PRAIRIE (2969): Brogan Fiala 228-224--452, Jeremy Cline 201-218--419, Brandon Wagner 222-176--398, Chase Bicket 143-218--361, Josh Kacena 179-159--338

WASHINGTON (2879): Kyle Kaness 193-257--450, Colin Elkin 190-221--411, Quincy Bruce 196-204--400, Zach Christensen 195-178--395, Bryan Cline 188-177--365

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

1. Cody Taylor (Marshalltown) 226-262-276--764
2. Jeff McCann (Waterloo East) 267-268-193--728
2. Dacoda Ewalt (Marshalltown) 256-248-224--728
4. Ryan Felton (DM Lincoln) 214-280-220--714
5. Jerry Wagner (Fort Dodge) 299-210-192--701
6. Austin LaMaack (Davenport North) 300-212-174--686
7. Charlie Neff (Pleasant Valley) 218-257-201--676
8. Seth Pennock (Clinton) 247-214-211--672
9. Andrew Gonner (Hempstead) 203-255-195--653
10. Austin Halcomb (Clinton) 220-235-150--605

Brogan Fiala races into the alley for Prairie

When he dropped a bowling ball on his little foot at the age of five or so, a bawling Brogan Fiala told everyone around he never wanted to see one of those things again.

So it’s funny that this Friday the 17-year-old Prairie senior will be the anchor for the school’s boys bowling team as it vies for the state championship at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines. And based on his score at the district meet last week, he’ll also be one of the top contenders for individual honors.

“After crushing my toes that time, I sure didn’t think I’d ever be a bowler,” says Brogan, the son of Tami and Scott Fiala of Fairfax.

Not only has he had an outstanding four-year career at Prairie, but he and lifelong buddy Jeremy Cline will head off next fall to Mount Mercy University with bowling scholarships helping to pay for their education.

“Whoever thought that would happen,” he says, somewhat bewildered himself.

To prepare for college and to work full-time at Tractor Supply Co. in Cedar Rapids this summer for spending money, Brogan is taking a year off from his other pursuit as a race car driver at Hawkeye Downs.  He starting doing that four summers ago, about the same he took up bowling again after his childhood trauma.

“Me and my dad have always been big fans and went to as many races as we could,” he says.

With Pop as his crew chief, he started out in small four-cylinder Hornets when he was 14, then moved up to modifieds on asphalt for two years and last summer piloted a more powerful Legends racing coupe.

“It’s just something we do for fun,” the young speed demon says. “It’s not like I’m lookin’ for a NASCAR ride.”

He took up bowling again in the eighth grade after his school science class went to a bowling alley to study the physics of the sport.

“How the ball rolls, that sort of thing,” he remembers vaguely.

While other students were more interested in the snack bar, Brogan discovered he had a natural knack for it.

Both he and Jeremy joined the Prairie bowling team in their freshman year.

“We grew up together, went to the same daycare, the same pre-school and all through school together,” Brogan explains.  “We butt heads a lot on the bowling alley, but otherwise we get along.”

The two have been the linchpins of the team that bowled a 3252 team total in the districts, out-pointing perennial powerhouses Muscatine and Linn-Mar by nearly 200 pins to qualify for state.

Brogan’s two-game 481 series also put him among the individual leaders going into the state meet.

“He’s steadily improved over the past four years,” says Don Willfong, who serves as the Prairie boys and girls coach along with Jeremy’s dad Kevin. “Brogan’s just a real solid bowler for out team. Plus, he’s a real nice kid.”

Besides competing for his school team, he also bowls in three leagues and carries a lofty 225 average.

Prairie just missed out making it to the state tournament last year, so this week will be the highlight of his four-year career.  And he’s looking to the fall and competing for former Jefferson assistant coach Glenn Healy’s one-year-old Mustang team. Longtime bowling mentors Virg Cerveny and Andy Dierks, coaches respectively at Jefferson and Linn-Mar, also help out with the upstart program.

Putting aside his crash helmet and racing garb for a summer to get ready, Brogan figures, will be worth it.

“I love racing. But they don’t give you a college scholarship for doing it.”

Prairie boys roll to state tournament

Going into the girls and boys Class 2A regional bowling tournament at Lancer Lanes Thursday morning, Prairie coaches Don Willfong and Kevin Cline knew both titles would be up for grabs.

“I thought we had a good shot,” Willfong said, “but I also knew Linn-Mar and Muscatine would right up there, too.

“Anytime you have three powerhouses in a bowling tournament, anything can happen.”

When it was all said and done, Prairie took the boys title and Muscatine the girls. Both automatically  qualify for next Friday’s state meet in Des Moines.

In the individual competition, Prairie’s Kate Palmer tied for first with Kendra Ballensky of Muscatine while Iowa City High’s Kolby Melsha claimed the boys title. All three also qualify for state.

“It’s just beyond all my expectations,” said Palmer, who rolled games of 212 and 207 for a 419 series.  “I was super nervous at first. But I took a deep breath and tried my hardest.”

According to the Prairie junior, “In bowling, I have my good days and my bad days. This was one of my good days.”

Willfong said Palmer “did a very good job of staying behind the ball today and picking up some nice spares.”

Melsha is a freshman at Solon High School who competes for City High because his school doesn’t have a bowling team.  He put together a 511 series on Thursday with games of 268 and 243.

“I knew he was capable,” said longtime City High Coach Jerry Maye, who has coached Melsha for eight years in youth leagues at Colonial Lanes in Iowa City.  “Kolby has been making steady progress all year.”

Brogan Fiala finished second in the boys division with a 481 and Justin Wyant of Linn-Mar was third at 459.

The team races were dogfights all day long.

In the end, the favored Muskies prevailed on the girls side with a strong Baker series finish for a 2790 total.  Linn-Mar was second at 2544 and Prairie third at 2410.  Rounding out the girls field were City High with 2242 and Iowa City West with 2065.

The Prairie boys avenged a loss to Linn-Mar in last year’s regional tournament.

“They had the exactly the same kind of energy today that we had last year,” said Linn-Mar Coach Andy Dierks of the rival Hawk bowlers.  “We were in the pocket all day. We just missed a lot of dumb spares.”

Prairie took the title with a commanding 3252 total, followed by Muscatine with 3099 and Linn-Mar with 3076.  Bringing up the rear were City High with 2990 and Iowa City West with 2686.

On the winning team with the senior Fiala were fellow seniors Jeremy Cline (407), Brandon Wagner (401) and Zach Bolton (384) along with junior Chase Bicket (335) and sophomore Josh Kacena (445).  The Hawk boys had a 77-pin lead over Linn-Mar and 117 over Muscatine going into the Baker series.  They then fashioned a lofty 289 Baker to win going away.

“Everybody stepped up for us today,” Prairie coach Cline said. “We had some pretty even scores throughout the day.

“And that great finished sealed the deal for us.”