Southeastern Michigan’s best high school student-athletes are being recognized in the Free Press and will continue to be featured throughout the winter sports season.
The 2021 Detroit High School Sports Awards honors the top competitors in the metro Detroit area. Despite the coronavirus interrupting or delaying meets and games, local teens in nearly a dozen sports were named to the all-area team — one of six in the state. These young stars will be recognized in a June show, where winners will move on to the national show and a chance to be named the player of the year in their sport.
Boys bowling honorees have been announced. You can find out the finalists and winners June 30:
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Ian Cain
Livonia Franklin, junior
Stats: 205 average, 290 high game
The buzz: Despite placing fifth at the Canton regional (831), the consistent right-hander rolled his way into the Division 1 individual championship match one week later — a jump of 27 spots from 2020 — following three wins in match play. He’s qualified for the individual state finals in each of his three seasons.
Noell Jackson
Dearborn Divine Child, senior
Stats: Average, high game not available
The buzz: Jackson anchored the Falcons to the Division 2 team championship in come-from-behind fashion. He earned individual all-state berth by ranking second in the qualifying block and reaching the quarterfinals and placed third at the Divine Child regional with a four-game score of 817; won three Catholic League titles.
Jacob Johnson
Livonia Clarenceville, junior
Stats: 205 average, 268 high game
The buzz: Johnson accomplished the triple crown of placing first at regionals (925), getting the highest qualifying block score at the Division 3 state finals and winning the Division 3 individual state championship. He also led the Trojans to a regional team title; their 4050 pinfall was the highest statewide.
MORE TEAMS:
Meet our honorees for girls bowling
Meet our honorees for girls swimming
Meet our honorees for boys tennis
Meet our honorees for volleyball
Meet our honorees for girls cross country
Meet our honorees for football
Meet our honorees for gymnastics
Ken Kloth Jr.
Livonia Franklin, senior
Stats: 208 average, 268 high game
The buzz: Kloth has been in the spotlight ever since he had the top qualifying score as a sophomore competing in the 2019 state finals. Then he made it back to match play this winter only to fall to his teammate, Cain, by four pins in the first round. Rolled a 535 two-game series on Feb. 2, among the state’s best.
Brandon Leavitt
Northville, junior
Stats: 209 average, 300 high game
The buzz: He racked up second-highest pinfall in Division 1 individual state finals qualifying block (1,351) and reached the quarterfinals to attain his first all-state honor. Leavitt rolled a 300 game March 2, and had a 515 two-game series the same day. He finished fifth in the Canton regional with a four-game total of 809.
Andrew Martin
Utica Ford II, junior
Stats: 218 average, 266 high game
The buzz: The Macomb Area Conference White Division MVP also won a team and an individual regional championship this winter. He anchored a 290 Baker game and 533 Baker series, both of which were tops in the state this season. Martin reached quarterfinals in match play at the Division 1 individual state finals.
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