Dream Team 2021
To officially conclude the 2020-2021 MHSAA boys and girls bowling seasons, the
coaches association bestowed the most prestigious awards in the sport to the top
athletes and coaches on Wednesday, May 26th.
These awards, specifically given to seniors, use regional and state finishes from the
past four years to determine the finest high school bowlers since the 2017-18 season.
After six girls and six boys rise to the top to earn Dream Team accolades along with a
boys and girls coach, the best of the best earn Miss Bowling and Mr. Bowling honors.
Not only will these distinguished student-athletes be honored in the record books, but
they soon will be honored in Allen Park, Michigan. Dream Team members, Miss
Bowling, and Mr. Bowling recipients will be recognized in the trophy room at
Thunderbowl Lanes.
2021 MHSAA Girls Bowling Dream Team
Miss Bowling: Dani DeCruydt- Lake Shore High School
Doubling down on her Dream Team selection, DeCruydt earned 2021’s Miss Bowling
title. Finishing runner-up in 2019 falling just short of a D1 singles title, she qualified 1st
in D2 the very next season. However, an upset to the 16 seed in the first round saw her
exit early, with just her senior year remaining. With one last shot at a state title, Dani
prevailed. After qualifying for states all four years, she averaged 205 to qualify as the
three-seed, and ran the table in 2021 to finally be declared a state champion.
For helping her throughout her high school career Dani had many people to thank.
“I want to thank my family, all my coaches, most importantly my dad because he’s been
my coach since I was little, my friends for supporting me, and all the people that I’ve met
throughout bowling.”
She’ll head not far from home to join the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech in Southfield.
Kathryn McArthur- Pittsford High School
A four-time D4 state qualifier, Kathyrn finished 10th, 3rd, 1st, and 6th in her region over
her four-year career. At states in 2019 and 2020, she qualified as the four seed and the
two seed respectively but fell in the first round in both years. Her best performance at
states came this past season after qualifying 5th, where she won her first two matches
but ended up falling to the 1-seed in the semifinals. The Pittsford graduate who also
dabbles in clay target shooting will head north to Jackson College to continue her
bowling career with the Jets.
Anna Maxwell- Westland John Glenn High School
One of the most dominant threats in all of high school bowling, Anna qualified for states
in each of her four years. After a loss in the 2018 state quarterfinals and a loss in the
2020 state semifinals, Anna finally achieved perfection during her senior year. In 2021,
she squeaked by the eight-seed in the first round of brackets but never came close to
dropping any of her next three matches. In game one of the finals, she delivered a 289
helping her secure a D1 state title. Anna will be heading down to St. Louis to study
sports management and marketing at Maryville University.
Karissa Manifold- Hillsdale High School
A three-time all-state first team member and a three-time state qualifier, Karissa made
the top 16 all three times at the state finals, including qualifying first in 2020. Her best
state finish came in her fourth and final year. Following a 2nd place finish at regionals in
2021, Karissa qualified 3rd at D3 states and eventually lost in the semifinals. The
four-sport athlete (volleyball, golf, and softball) also led her team to a 3rd place finish at
states after the Hornets nabbed a regional title. Manifold will join McArthur this fall at
Jackson College to study nursing.
Kassidy Alexander- Hanover-Horton High School
Kassidy’s best season came her junior year when she seized a state title as a
three-seed in 2020, but still threatened for a D4 state title during her senior year in the
singles and team portion. After capturing a team regional title a week prior, the senior
pushed her team on Friday to a runner-up finish. The next day, she attempted to claim
back-to-back state titles but the eventual champion stopped Kassidy short in the semis.
Spring Arbor University successfully added the future social work major to their bowling
team.
Abigail Mather- Charlotte High School
Abigail stands alone as the only two-time individual regional champ on the girls’ dream
team. She reeled in regional titles during her sophomore and junior years. In 2019, she
didn’t make the top 16 at states. However her best season came in 2020 after qualifying
8th at D2 states, advancing to the quarterfinals but then losing in a tight match. In 2021,
she finished 7th in her region to qualify for states. However, she was unable to compete
in state singles for her senior year.
Coach: Karrie Brunner- Gobles
2021 MHSAA Boys Bowling Dream Team
Mr. Bowling: Izaac Goergen- Midland High School
With an unbelievable résumé, which includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th place regional
finishes and not one but two individual D1 state titles, Izaac earned himself the honor of
Mr. Bowling and will forever be next to some of the most esteemed high school bowlers
in Michigan.
“It feels amazing,” expressed Goergen. “It’s four years of work paying off and I feel like
I’ve earned it so I’m very glad to see it come to fruition.”
After a 40th place finish at states as a freshman, it only went up from there. He qualified
4th in 2019 but was upset in the first round. He took that loss as motivation to improve
over the next two years. His closest match in 2020 was a 39-pin difference, and even
though 2021 had a couple of closer matches, he prevailed once again to clinch his 2nd
state title.
When asked if this will urge him to keep working hard so something even bigger could
transpire in the future, Mr. Bowler noted his current drive for greatness already neared
its peak.
“I’m sure it helps, but I’m already locked in. This is what I want to do for the rest of my
life and I’m getting that opportunity to bowl the next four years competitively and
hopefully get to the next step. This just shows that I’m on the right path.”
Izaac will take his talents to Ann Arbor this fall to bowl for the Concordia Cardinals.
Sean Wyers- Grass Lake High School
Sean was an integral part of a top-tier program at Grass Lake High School and the
numbers back it up. Individually, he qualified 3rd for states in 2018 and 2019, and as a
junior in 2020, he changed things up and took home a regional title to advance to
states. Sean wasn’t able to make it out of the first round individually, but he
compensated for it on the team side. Grass Lake collected regional titles in 2020 and
2021 and continued its prominence by winning D4 states in 2020 and D3 states in 2021.
Sean will be heading down to Florida to bowl at prestigious Webber International
University while majoring in business.
Noah Tafanelli- Warren Woods Tower High School
A three-time state qualifier and two-time regional champion, Noah always found himself
in match play when he got the chance. In 2019 and 2021, he qualified 11th and 3rd
respectively but dropped his first match in brackets both years. However, in 2020 Noah
obliterated the competition. He qualified first, averaging 226 for his six games, and had
a low two-game set of 439 in brackets as he charged through the field for a D2 state
title. Noah will be majoring in criminal justice as he bowls for Siena Heights University.
Marco Ramirez- Woodhaven High School
Marco’s finest season came in 2020 after placing 8th at regionals and making a run at
the D1 state title. After finishing 9th in qualifying, Marco took down his first two
opponents in bracket play which included an impressive 484 in the second round. He
later lost in the semis by two marks, therefore, ending his title run. After a 2021 9th
place finish at regionals, Marco missed out on the top 16 at states by 24 pins. Marco will
head to Lawrence Tech to study Mechanical Engineering and bowl with the Blue Devils.
Brayden Metcalf- Jackson Northwest High School
Brayden’s first state finals appearance in 2020 ended in a first-round loss after
qualifying 9th at regionals. Advancing by the skin of his teeth at regional qualifying,
Brayden took full advantage at this year’s state finals after his close call. Qualifying for
2021 states by just four pins, he vowed not to take that spot for granted. After a solid six
games of qualifying averaging 215, Brayden snuck by in the first two matches to
advance to the final four. He made a run after being down 61 pins after game one, but
his fight came up eight pins short. Brayden will continue his bowling career at Spring
Arbor University while majoring in biology and pre-medicine.
Hunter Haldaman- Traverse City Christian High School
After Hunter missed out on States in his sophomore year by just 12 pins, he never
looked back. He cruised through regionals the last two seasons as the only one to
average over 200 in either year and continued his dominance at the state finals. In
2020, Hunter qualified 2nd and mowed down the field. He never had a set under 400 as
he took home a D4 state title. In 2021, seeking back-to-back state titles, Hunter was
right on pace, qualifying 2nd once again. However, he lost in the semis, just two
matches away from excellence. He will bowl for Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids
this fall.
Coach- Troy Stamm Swartz Creek High School
A 17-year coaching veteran, Stamm has mentored Kearsley High School and Swartz
Creek High School during his tenure. He led the Dragons of Swartz Creek to the State
Finals in 2020 and 2021 and in 2013 and 2016. Along with multiple tournament wins
over the past decade, Coach Stamm propelled his groups to five conference titles in
Swartz Creek since his first year with them in 2012. Troy even had an individual
advance to the D1 semifinals in 2021.
“It’s an honor,” Coach Stamm said. “I would have never dreamed I would have gotten it,
I was at a loss for words. It’s just amazing to be looked up to at this level.”
Troy thanks his good coaching friends Robert Tubbs and Robert Ploof, his kids, parents,
Darlene, his wife Genie, and all the students he has coached throughout the years
By: Chase Kaufman
Lawrence Tech
2021