by Jim Boyle
Editor
The Zimmerman Thunder adaptive bowling team made a splash in 2023 during its inaugural year, and it followed it up with another impressive performance on May 10 at Bowlero in Brooklyn Park in this year’s state tourney tilt.
The team — with members from Zimmerman, Elk River and Rogers high schools as well as Zimmerman, Rogers and Prairie View middle schools, came home a state champion doubles team and a state champion four-person team.
Adaptive bowling is broken into three main categories, and bowlers compete individually, as pairs and as teams in one of three divisions: ASD (for those on the autism spectrum), CI and PI (for those who are cognitively or physically impaired).
Jason Metress, a Prairie View Middle School eighth grader, and Ciaran Hester, a Rogers High School junior, won the state championship in the ASD division.
Fynn Spitzmueller, a Zimmerman Middle School eighth grader; Lucas Stoltman, a ZHS sophomore; Maas, an Elk River High School junior; and Isaac Barr, a ZMS seventh grader, won in the CI division.
There were also two state tournament runner-ups on the trip home.
Jordyn Genrdeau, a seventh grader from Prairie View Middle School, took second place in the CI division.
And the four-person team of Jordyn Genrdeau, a seventh grader Prairie View Middle School; Lauren Withers, an RMS eighth grader; Josie Wendt, a ZHS junior; and Nate Fischer, an RHS senior, were runner-ups behind the state championship team of Spitzmueller, Stoltman, Maas, and Barr.
Others to place at the tournament included individuals Lana Sorenson (fourth in PI), Zian Hazlett (eighth in PI), Wendt and Barr (tied for ninth in CI).
Head coach Chris Withers complimented his team on their grit and determination.
“They wanted to do well all year,” he said. “More importantly, to me, as their coach, they were wonderful teammates and good people. I tell my parents ... how they bowl is about eighth on the list of things I worry about. They’re good people who come from good families. The parent support was incredible.”
Fischer, who won boys individual state title for athletes in the CI division, came home with the Russ Bakko Most Outstanding Bowler Award, which was established in 2003 by the Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association. The award honors the student athlete that exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship, effort and excellence in competition in Adapted Bowling.
Bakko served the MAAA from its inception as a board member, schedule chair, vice chair and chairperson. It was during Russ’s tenure as chairperson that the MAAA was sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, making it the only program for student athletes with disabilities sanctioned by a State Activities Association in the United States. He was chairperson when bowling, the only individual sport sponsored by the MAAA, began. He served as State Bowling Tournament manager for its initial years.
Heading into the tournament, Withers’ daughter Lauren Withers was named an All-State adapted bowler, a new award this year given to those who participate in an MSHSL adapted bowling state qualifier and score in the top 20 of averages for guys and girls.
The coach has been assisted by the following staff: Audra Wells, Joel Schendel, Nicole Mazza, Teri Louden, Keith Rasmussen, Laura Behrendt, and Angela Elphick.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this without the staff I had,”
Chris Withers said. “Their positivity, their influence and how well they know the kids is critically important.”
ROL Air sponsored the team.
“They bought us our shirts and paid for the pizza at our banquet,” Withers said. “I thought that was really cool of them. Everybody from the athletic director to ROL Air, I couldn’t do it without all of the support.”
It was Zimmerman’s ASD team that came home with the school’s first team title in last year’s inaugural season. They were led by Chris Maller, Kamren Hamilton, Jacob Arola and Cayleb Merten.
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