By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(January 14, 2024 7:30 AM ET) Grass Lake High School senior Brice Sandoval said he tried about every sport before junior high school but nothing stuck.
It wasn’t until his grandfather took him bowling in seventh grade that he found his sport of choice.
And Grass Lake is appreciative of that newfound love.
Sandoval has been one of the Warrior bowlers – officially or unofficially – for more than five seasons watching Grass Lake win three state championships during that period.
And with a loaded squad again, the Warriors could make it four of six in state bowling titles.
Sandoval’s grandfather, Rick, took him bowling one weekend and it was love at first strike.
“I had a lot of fun the weekend my grandfather took me out bowling,” Sandoval said. “We made it a weekly thing and eventually I joined a youth bowling league.”
Sandoval won a youth bowling league in high school and caught the eye of Jackson College Coach Steve Sears.
“He gave me his business card and we had a conversation about the college team,” Sandoval said. “Any tournament I go to, Jackson College is out there watching.”
That attention paid off for JC and Sandoval as he recently signed to bowl for Jackson College next fall. The Jets are ranked in the top 10 nationally in junior college bowling.
“I know a lot of guys on the team, so it is comfortable,” Sandoval said.
But Sandoval and the Warriors have unfinished business as the reigning state champions. Grass Lake won the Division 4 state title in 2023 defeating New Lothrop by nearly 125 pins in the state final.
The Warriors won a Division 4 title in 2020, a Division 3 title in 2021, and the D-4 title last year.
Sandoval rolled the top individual game for Grass Lake in 2023 with a 198 in the team finals. He finished 18th individually last year in the state tournament.
The Warriors are ranked No. 2 in a preseason Division 3 coaches poll.
“We only lost one bowler (from the 2022-2023 squad) so it is virtually the same team,” Sandoval said. “We talked all summer about wanting to be back in the moment again.”
The Warriors are a competitive bunch as every game is recorded and competition abounds during practice.
“We have a lot of fun at practice,” Sandoval said. “I have been bowling with the varsity squad since seventh grade … but now I am the senior making the younger bowlers feel welcome and showing them how to have fun.”
He is the top-ranked bowler in the Cascades Conference with a 219 average for the undefeated Warriors.
