AOTW: Lake Orion’s Yang puts together grand finish

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

LAKE ORION — Kevin Yang said he didn’t have the greatest season as a whole, but his final high school bowling campaign was highlighted with a grand finish.

Yang, a senior from Lake Orion High school, ended his season as both an all-region and all-state performer — all capped by runner-up finishes at the Drakeshire Lanes regional and a state runner-up showing at the Division 1 state finals at M-66 Bowl near Battle Creek.

The placing was the all-time best finish for a Lake Orion male bowler since the inception of the program in 2003.

“It was pretty exciting. I was just hoping to make it to the (state finals),” admitted Yang. “I had my best day at the state finals.”

Yang advanced out of the 60-player qualifying block, placing 12^th with a six-game total of 1,186. Only the top 16 bowlers advance to match play at the state finals.

Yang then found his groove, rolling all the way to the finals match with three wins before falling Davison’s Tylor Greene in the title game. Greene prevailed, 487-386 (258-180, 229-206).

“I was really happy with what I accomplished. It was hard because we didn’t (qualify for the state finals) as a team. We missed by three pins,” recalled Yang. “But I got a chance to play as an individual and played probably the best I ever have.”

Along with teammates Mike Brumitt (26^th) and Matt Marcetti (54^th), Yang entered the singles competition with hopes of just advancing to match play. The senior squeaked by to set the stage for his best-ever finish.

Yang was 16^th at the regional as a junior and did compete in the state-meet singles a year ago.

Based on averaged at OAA Red Division dual matches only, Yang earned third-team all-league status this season. At the OAA Super Meet league championships, which featured teams and singles from both the OAA Red Division and OAA White Division in late February, he picked up the pace by placing a fine ninth overall in singles play Kevin Yang (191-191—382).

That singled his late-season push.

“There was portion in the middle of the season where Kevin was really struggling,” admitted Lake Orion coach Kevin Crowther. “It was right in the middle of the season where he had some rough games. But he worked his way out of it and came on strong at the end of the season. He played a lot better at the league meet and then really came through at the regional at state finals. I don’t think anybody would have predicted that finish as the state runner-up, though. We were hoping that at least one of our guys could make it through to match play.”

Yang posted a 1,233 score at the regional to finish second and move into the state finals on a roll. He bowed out standing on the state medals stand.

“I didn’t think I would do as well as I did,” offered Yan, a three-year varsity veteran. “This is something that I will remember the rest of my life.”

OAA RESULTS:  http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/02/22/10773/

REGIONAL RESULTS:  http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/02/26/bowling-regional-results/

STATE FINALS RESULTS:  http://www.mhsaa.com/Portals/0/Documents/BBO/2012/12-SINGLES-D1-Boys.txt

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Tags: Athlete of the Week, bowling, high school bowling, Kevin Yang, MHSAA Division ! State Finals, prep bowling

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