Apopka state champ pins down top honor
Boys bowling state champ Apopka dominated the FHSAA state finals and the Blue Darters have four players on the 11-man Orlando Sentinel All-Area team, including the player of the year.
Two sophomores are on a squad that has representatives from eight teams. Other high schools represented are Circle Christian, Cypress Creek, East River, Edgewater, Leesburg, Timber Creek and Winter Springs.
Bowler of the Year Richard Caruso Apopka, Sr.
Buzz:
On top of helping the Blue Darters win their sixth FHSAA state team title, Caruso was a workhorse with nerves of steel during match play as he captured the individual state championship. He survived three straight 2-1 matches in the consolation bracket, including a win against Quinn Bostic of Somerset Prep in which Caruso shot 280 to prevent elimination in the face of Bostic’s 278. Caruso averaged 226 in the regular season, including a 299; and averaged 239 in state tourney match play with 298 and 289 games.
All-Area bowlers Rohde Barber
Circle Christian, So. Buzz:
He rolled 924 with a 256 game at state and finished 15th. He averaged 213 with a 278 high game and 676 series. Shot 651 in the District 9 tournament.
Joshua Brown
Timber Creek, Sr.
Buzz: He rolled 866 at state to finish 20th after winning District 9 with 719, the area’s best district series. He averaged 226 with a 278 high game during the regular season. John Connell
Leesburg, Sr.
Buzz: He rolled 910 in the state tournament, including a 247 game, and placed seventh after match play. Connell averaged 220-plus and won District 4 with a 702 series.
Richard Dannelly
Winter Springs, So.
Buzz: He rolled 909 (267 high game) in qualifying and finished 12th at state. He averaged 196 in the regular season with a 487 high two-game series and shot district 620.
Chris Falcon-Molina
Cypress Creek, Sr.
Buzz: He shot 866 at state to tie for 20th with Brown after rolling 714 for runner-up in District 9 (behind Brown). He also had a 713 series during the regular season.
Isaiah Jackson
Apopka, Jr.
Buzz: After transferring back to Apopka, he posted a 961 set with a 278 in the state finals where he placed sixth. He averaged 232-plus, including a 288 game and 705 series.
John Pearson
Edgewater, Jr.
Buzz: He rolled 860 in the state tourney for 24th place after shooting 657 in District 8. He averaged 213 in the regular season with a 278 game and 717 series.
TJ Pierson East River, Jr. Buzz:
He shot 821 in the state for 45th place in the state tournament after placing third in District 9 (687). He averaged 217 in the regular season with a 247 game.
Malek Taylor Apopka, Sr. Buzz:
2021 area player of the year had 856 four-game qualifying total at state (27th place). He averaged 219, including a 505 twogame series and shot 669 in District 8.
Jeremy Walker Apopka, Sr. Buzz:
His 907 set with a 278 game helped the Blue Darters win the state title and he placed fifth individually. Walker averaged 239 with a 743 series in the regular season.