Grass Lake High School senior Parker Horvath listens to his coach during practice at JAX 60 Recreation Center last week.
Horvath uses bowling experiences to become a leader, more outgoing
Photo, story by Jeff Steers
Exponent special writer
Grass Lake High School senior Parker Horvath said he wasn’t the most outgoing kid growing up.
Meeting other people and being able to lead was not at the top of his agenda.
But that all changed more than three years ago as he started bowling on the GLHS team.
Encouraged by a friend, Horvath eventually learned to love the sport. Along the way, he met a great group of friends.
This year the senior is the captain of the Warriors – the two-time defending state team champions.
“I learned a lot of social and team working skills through bowling,” Horvath said. “Bowling has also taught me work ethic and how to get along with people.
“These guys are very important to me.”
Horvath said he wasn’t thrilled about the sport of bowling until he purchased his first bowling ball.
As a junior Grass Lake won the Division 4 team title over Farwell. The Warriors defeated Ithaca and Cascades Conference foes Manchester in the opening rounds of the Michigan High School Athletic Association state team finals.
Last year the Warriors jumped up to Division 3 and again won the team title with wins over Portland, Napoleon, and Boyne City in the MHSAA tournament.
Horvath was a state individual qualifier last winter and finished third in the qualifying rounds. He lost in the first round of the stepladder.
The senior continues to work hard on the sport – most of the time with his friends on the team.
“We go to Chelsea when they have a 7-hour special,” Horvath said. “We bowl for seven hours shooting 30-40 games.
“We just practice more than any other team.” (more below)
Horvath finished with a 197 average in conference and 215 in tournament play in 2020-2021.
He plans to bowl at Jackson College and perhaps study music. Horvath said he can play guitar, bass, trumpet, and saxophone and maintains a 3.3-grade point average at GLHS.
The Warriors are expected to be a top team in the state again this season. Grass Lake lost only one bowler from the 2021 state championship team.
“We don’t talk a lot of smack (to other teams), but we talk a lot amongst ourselves,” Horvath said. “We get really excited to compete during matches.
“Being part of championship teams is incredible.”
