Carter Fournier earns Hudson's first bowling state title
During the early rounds of the Division 4 individual boys bowling tournament, Hudson sophomore Carter Fournier was down and out.
"He looked at me and said he was happy he made it this far," Hudson coach Mike Longmire. "I reminded him it's not over and that anything could happen. The next frame his opponent threw a gutter."
Fournier trailed in the round of 16, quarterfinal and semifinal, but came out on top in all three before getting to the championship where he defeated last season's runner-up, Bryce Cadaret of Allen Park Cabrini, 444-392, to give the Tigers their first ever bowling state title.
"He's 15-years-old," Longmire said. "He's young, but he has a great attitude. He never gets down, so I knew he was capable."
Fournier was one-of-a-kind in the tournament.
Of the 56 bowlers in the state meet, he was the only left-handed bowler in the group. So he not only overcame the field, but also whatever the issues the lanes presented to left-handed bowlers.
"There must have been something about the pattern," Longmire said. "He's got a natural game. If he can get the ball off his thumb right, it's amazing to watch."
The bowling tournament is unlike many other MHSAA tournaments.
Hudson knows wrestling and understand how shocking an upset it would be for the top-seeded wrestler to lose in the first round at Ford Field or if the top team lost in the quarterfinals at Wings Event Center.
In bowling, it begins with 56 bowlers and six games, it's narrowed to the top 16 and those 16 are seeded top to bottom.
But with bowling, it's truly back to zero when the bracket begins and 'upsets' happen all of the time. In fact, the one-seed did in fact lose in the opening round.
It's a long tournament, especially for someone in Fournier's shoes who bowled in the team tournament the day prior.
"I've been coaching 25 or so years and I tell all the kids don't worry what's going on around you," Longmire said. "Just make your shot at that moment."
Hudson's regular season surely helped Fournier for this moment.
With the addition of Madison, the LCAA became an especially tough conference and the county tournament is no cakewalk either with Tecumseh and Adrian in the mix as well.
"He's our anchor," Longmire said. "He's bowling against Blake Terrill of Blissfield and (Konnor) Hickman of Madison and competes against each team's top bowler."
Fournier is dedicated to the game and it was evident in the days following the title run.
"He was in the center Sunday and Monday practicing," Longmire said. "He's dedicated."
The rest of the team, which qualified for the state meet, but didn't get into the bracket, is also back next season and Longmire is hoping his title run will inspire the rest of the group.
"There were times my guys maybe didn't have the best effort because they were down and felt they were out," he said. "Carter was down in each of his first three matches and came back each time."
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Carter Fournier battles to Division 4 boys bowling state title
