Unveiling the 2023-24 Volusia-Flagler All-Area Boys Bowling Team

DeLand prevailed in a memorable four-team, district championship free-for-all and captured its first boys bowling trophy in more than a decade.

The Bulldogs rallied from a five-game defeat in the winner's bracket semifinals, to eliminate Matanzas and Spruce Creek in succession and topple Seabreeze twice in best-of-five Baker games. They and the runner-up Sandcrabs both survived qualifying at states and earned a berth into the 16-team double-elimination tournament.

FHSAA bowling finals recap:Seabreeze girls finish 4th in bid to reclaim state title

Heavily featured in the 2023 Volusia-Flagler All-Area teams, DeLand and Seabreeze combined to claim five of the six Boys Bowling Player of the Year nominations.

The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the player of the year nominees for boys bowling. The winners will be announced during the live show on Monday, June 3, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

The show is presented with the support of Halifax Health.

During the live show, athletes of the year in 30 state-sanctioned sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event thanks to sponsors. Details on how additional tickets can be obtained will be available soon. 

For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can follow it on Facebook. 

The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. This year, one school from the area will win a $1,000 donation to its school’s athletic department through our School Spirit Contest. Details on how to vote for your school will be coming soon.

Let's meet the best boys bowlers this fall from across the two counties.

Nominees

Sebastian Baldwin, DeLand: The senior improved his regular-season average by 20 pins compared to this time a year ago, ranking third in the area at 217.45. He finished two pins shy of a 300 game in October, the third-best, single-game score locally this fall.

Jesse Barger, DeLand: The junior earns his second consecutive Player of the Year nomination, again posting the area's second-highest scoring average (220.15). Barger paced the Bulldogs at districts (three-game total of 621) and at states (four-game total of 874), tying for 18th in FHSAA individual bracket qualifying.

Brayden Barnes, Seabreeze: The lone Volusia-Flagler male bowler to crack the top-16 at states, sophomore Barnes maintained a 213.9 average, rolled a 300 game and knocked down a team-high 4,492 pins for the district runner-up Sandcrabs.

Dalton Boice, Seabreeze: The freshman made an immediate impact for the Sandcrabs. Boice led all local bowlers with a 237.5 average and joined Barnes as the only Volusia-Flagler boys to record a perfect 300 this season. Boice added the top scratch series (532) during the regular season.

Brandon Page, Matanzas: Counted upon as the Pirates' most consistent tempo-setter in Baker competition, the senior bowled more games (19) and toppled more pins (3,942) than any player in the lineup. Page had a 207.47 scoring average, with a high game of 257.

Tyler Sprague, DeLand: The senior makes his third straight All-Area appearance, and gets a second Player of the Year nomination. Sprague anchored the Bulldogs to a District 3 championship and had the sixth-highest local average (208.23).

Other Athletes of Note

Jeremy Batt, Flagler Palm Coast: The senior lifted FPC to 13 wins in team competition and upped his scoring average over the 200-pin mark for the first time, leading the area in total pinfall (6,409 in 32 games).

Leiten Lundell, Seabreeze: The freshman produced the 10th-highest scoring average in the area (202.5) this season, and rolled a four-game total of 749 at state qualifying to help the Sandcrabs crack the 16-team Baker tournament.

Grant McMillan, Matanzas: The senior prevailed in a tiebreaker at districts to take the second wild card and gain entry into the FHSAA tournament. McMillan, who averaged 193.36 per game, placed 62nd individually at states.

Tyler Miller, Matanzas: The senior finished 11th locally with a 202.25 average, hitting a high game of 258 and a high scratch series of 479 during the regular season.

JR Peterson, DeLand: The senior rolled the sixth-best game in the area during the year (268) and kept the eighth-highest scoring average (207.47) for the district champs.

Logan Walok, Spruce Creek: The junior, who averaged 198.53 pins per game, shined at districts with a three-game total of 692, missing out on states via ninth- and 10th-frame tiebreaker and leading the Hawks to a third-place team showing.

Top Coach

Garon Keuten and Dustin Seymour, DeLand: The co-coaches led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record during the regular season, and the aforementioned District 3 title. DeLand survived two rounds in the state tournament's consolation bracket before exiting in a tie for seventh place.

Honorable Mention

Atlantic: Jordan Chester, Jack Patulski

DeLand: Ransom Fogle

Flagler Palm Coast: Eliot Oliva

Mainland: Evan Doan

Matanzas: Kaleb Castello, Mason Evans, Christian Martin, Jett Walden

Pine Ridge: Daniel Condon

Seabreeze: Logan Compton, Michael Nichols

Spruce Creek: Lucas Dominguez, Derrick Walker

University: Jacob Burke, Kolby Lyster