JTV Sports Quick Focus: Gritzmaker Improves To Be Top LCAA Bowler

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(February 18, 2022 4:12 PM) Columbia Central High School bowler Caleb Gritzmaker went from a just-missed junior season to a can’t-miss senior campaign.

The CCHS junior said something just clicked this winter.

Whatever it was is working for Gritzmaker – one of four seniors on the CCHS boys’ bowling team – as he is second in the conference with a 220 per-game bowling average and leading his team to another Lenawee County Athletic Association bowling title.

CCHS has finished 9-1 in the LCAA for three consecutive seasons.

Gritzmaker finished 18th at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 individual regional tournament with a 161 in his final game knocking him out of contention for a top 10 – and a trip to the state finals.

He also missed the top 10 in the LCAA – good for first- or second-team honors.  

But this season is different for Gritzmaker.

“Something just turned on my senior year,” Gritzmaker said. “I thinks it is because I have supportive teammates and a supportive coach.

“I also ask a lot of questions … I want to do everything right.”

The CCHS senior is doing everything right in the classroom. He has a 4.07 grade point average and is ninth in his class. He would like to attend Central Michigan University or the University of Michigan.

“Neither one has a bowling program or clubs,” Gritzmaker said. 

He considered starting a bowling club should he choose CMU as there is a bowling alley in Mount Pleasant. 

But the senior has unfinished business in his senior bowling season.

Gritzmaker believes the Golden Eagles have a great chance of making the MHSAA team finals and having some teammates in the individual tournament. 

“This has definitely been my favorite season as the four seniors have grown in the past few years,” Gritzmaker said. “We met one another about the same time and for fun go bowling.”