Berkley High School to Send Lone Bowler to State Finals

Four pins and a snowstorm almost denied a chance at having a representative in the state’s bowling tournament.

Fortunately for the Bears, Danny Despard overcame both hurdles to make his first trip to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 Boys’ Bowling Tournament this weekend.

Despard is the only representative from the Berkley boys and girls teams to remain a contender in post-season play. He will compete in the Division 2 Singles Finals beginning at 8:25 a.m. Saturday at Century Lanes in Waterford.

“I feel really blessed since no one else on the team made it,” Despard said. “... I’m happy for myself.”

Despard advanced to the state finals by bowling a six-game total of 1,147 to earn the 10th and final singles qualifying spot from the Region 11 tournament last weekend.

Despard averaged about 190 for the regional tournament and had a few highlights along the way to keep his season alive.

“He was pretty darn consistent through most of his games,” Berkley coach Rob Arney said. “He bowled a 169 and then a 172 his last game. He threw a lot of strikes, which was nice to see. He almost didn’t go.”

Not go?

Despard spent his school’s spring break – the week leading up to the team and singles regional tournaments – up north. Despard said he was unable to return for the team portion of regionals because of a snowstorm.

“At the last second, I got a text from him that he was stuck up north and he forgot about the team thing and he asked if he could still bowl for singles,” Arney said. “If he was a junior, I would have said no. Since he’s a senior and a four-year bowler, no problem. I guess me being a nice guy kind of worked out.

“Danny’s a good kid," Arney said. "He’s got a dry sense of humor and he’s not a troublemaker.”

Despard made it back to town in time for the morning singles bowling session and the rest is history.

Despard is also a member of the Berkley boys’ golf team, but this is his first trip to the state playoffs in either sport.

What does it mean to be able to compete in the state finals?

“I don’t think is has sunk in yet,” Despard said. “I’m just happy to have made it. I’ll do my best at the next level and whatever happens happens.”

Arney said making it past regionals was a feat in itself because the 11th place finisher trailed Despard by just four pins. The next bowler was just six pins behind and the next was nine.

“The one kid who was four pins below him was a kid from Hazel Park,” Arney said. “He missed a 10 pin on his last ball or he probably would have beat Danny.”

Despard is the first member of the Berkley boys team to make it to the state finals since 2009. Junior Emilee Buzzell was a state finalist for the Berkley girls last season. However, she failed to advance out of the 2011 regional.

Despard said his mother and grandfather plan to attend Saturday’s tournament. Other than that, it’s just another day.

“I have nothing special planned,” Despard said. “I’ll get up, have some breakfast and go there.”

What’s for breakfast?

“Eggs, toast and some sausage, maybe,” he said.

Feed the kid well – he is a state finalist.