SPORTSBEAT, by Peter Jakey–Rogers City freshman captures individual glory

It was freshman Bailey Budnik’s, 15, first trip to state, and his mindset going in was to just make the cut of 16.

He did that, and so much more, in becoming the first-ever individual champ from the Huron bowling program. There are many Rogers City bowlers who proudly get to carry that moniker, but all did it as part of a team experience.

Of the four Hurons to make the final match, Bailey is the first to get an individual gold medal, and it is even much more remarkable considering he is just a ninth-grader.

Of the 800 bowlers from Division IV, who competed in this year’s tournament starting at regionals, only one school had two bowlers competing in the semifinal round, and that was of course Rogers City. Rebecca Bannasch placed third.

State champion Bailey Budnik (Photo by Richard Lamb)

“It was nerve-racking,” said Bailey, who is the son of Brad and Edie Budnik. He believes consistency in his throws won it.

His coach Brian Bannasch kept telling the freshman to keep his mind clear.

“Brian is the one that got him throwing the ball right, Brian is the one that picked the ball that he needed, and he’s the one that kept him calm during that last game,” said Brad. He defeated fellow freshman Jeffrey Green of Burton Bentley.

Bailey definitely took his game to another level that day. His average on the Tuesday afternoon youth league at Nautical Lanes is 173. His average Saturday was 196.

And through the long grind of the tournament, another important presence during his tournament run was his sister Ashley, who was part of the girls’ state championship team of 2010.

Bailey doesn’t have any superstitions, but it seems like good things happen when she has been around.

“I bowl good every time she is there,” said Bailey. “So, I don’t know how I am going to do next year.”

Ashley missed the cut of 16 by a mere four pins as a freshman, and this year as a senior.

“She was upset,” said Edie, “But, she pulled it together and came over and cheered him on.” Through her tears, she told her mother how proud she was of her younger brother. In turn, Edie was proud of how Ashley handled the situation. It is tough enough for seniors to get through those dreaded last sports moments, but big sister was there to provide support for as long as little brother would listen.

“After each shot I would tell him to take a deep breath, because if you get really tense, you pull your shoulder over and the ball will go all the way over to the left, and he was doing that,” said Ashley. “I would say, Bailey come here and take a deep breath, just focus on making a good shot. Don’t look at the score, don’t look at the other person’s score, just focus on your mark on the lane. Up until the last match, that worked pretty well.”

He had to tell her, “stop.” And they did not talk during the final round. He beat everyone by more than 100 pins up until the final match, so maybe she should not have stopped.

What was it like during that final ride?

“It is insane,” said Bailey. “If you make a good shot, there is an explosion of cheers and everybody is just going crazy.”

Brian kept reminding him that he knew what to do and make it each shot count.

“I just sat there and was amazed,” said Ed

ie. “He has amazed me all the years that he has been alive, because he is one of these kids that, if he sees something, he is going to go out and do it. He can just manifest positiveness to himself.”

Bailey taught himself how to weld and has turned that talent into a junk art business and has sold pieces at galleries in Rogers City and Harbor Springs. He also was featured in a segment of the PBS (Public Broadcasting Television) show “Under the Radar.” He’s also taught himself how to play the guitar and piano. Bailey has a grade point average of 3.60, which will earn him academic all-state honors.

“It is special, because not only do we have that, but in my household we have two state title holders, because Ashley won it her freshman year,” said Brad. “So, it’s pretty special to have two champions in the house.” Ashley was part of the 2010 state championship squad that defeated Ithaca.