44 | APRIL 22 • 2021
SPORTS
Joe Bernstein says Isaac
Mougoue is a perfect exam-
ple of what high school
sports are all about.
“You can give something
a try,” said Bernstein, the
boys bowling coach at
Frankel Jewish Academy.
“And one of the great things
about a small school like
Frankel is Isaac was able to
join our bowling team.”
Mougoue, a freshman,
started the late-starting and
condensed season bowling
in the 30s at FJA practices
in January.
He finished the season,
at FJA’s final regular-sea-
son competition March 8
against Ann Arbor Father
Gabriel Richard at Astro
Lanes in Madison Heights,
bowling a 141.
“Our kids were amazed,”
Bernstein said.
“If we had 15 more
practices and non-league
matches like in a normal
season, there’s no telling
how much more Isaac
would have improved.
“I don’t know if Isaac is
going to be a 200 bowler,
but he’s a kid you want on
your team because of how
much he wants to improve.
He’s one of the building
blocks for our young team
(there were no seniors on
the FJA roster this sea-
son).”
FJA didn’t qualify for the
state tournament as a team
nor have any individual
state tournament qualifiers
March 19 at the regional
hosted by Ten Pin Alley in
Tecumseh.
The Jaguars finished
ninth among 13 teams in the
team standings.
“We struggled. It was a
learning experience for
our guys because the lane
conditions were tough,”
Bernstein said.
Here were FJA’s top scor-
ers at the regional:
• Eli Gordon 139-166-151-
157.
• Andy Tukel 143-123-133-
123.
• Jonah Miller 117-140-
149-111.
“All in all, it was a good
season,” Bernstein said. “I
hope we return to normal
next season.
“I’d expect big things
from our guys. They’re
good kids and good stu-
dents.”
After a Slow Start, FJA Bowler Finished the Season on a Roll
JOE BERNSTEIN
Isaac Mougoue
Spartans’ Success Measured by More Than Wins and Losses
The statistics aren’t
mind-boggling.
Josh Nodler played in 27
games this season for the
Michigan State University
hockey team. The 5-foot-
10, 193-pound sophomore
forward from Oak Park
had three goals and eight
assists for 11 points.
The Spartans finished
7-18-2.
Despite those numbers,
the season was a success,
in Nodler’s estimation,
because at least there was
a season in the midst of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m 100% appreciative
and thankful to have a sea-
son,” Nodler said.
Only one series was
postponed, and that wasn’t
Michigan State’s fault. It was
Wisconsin that
had the COVID-
19 issues.
Nodler and
the rest of the
Michigan State
players had to
abide by a multi-
tude of pandem-
ic protocols and
restrictions to
stay on the ice.
“We were
tested nearly every day,”
Nodler said. “That was a
pain at first, but it became
part of our routine.”
Wearing a mask was
mandatory in most places.
On the ice and in the lock-
er room were the biggest
exceptions.
Road trips meant hours
in a hotel and most meals
eaten there.
“Things were
much more restric-
tive on the road
than my freshman
season,” Nodler
said.
Nodler is happy
about his progress
as a player this
season.
“I was more
comfortable,
and I felt I made a bigger
impact on the team with
my skating and physical-
ity,” the Calgary Flames
draftee said. “I’m going to
work hard this summer so
I can make an even bigger
impact next season.”
Nodler played in 36
Michigan State games as
a freshman and had three
goals and five assists. He
was named the Spartans’
Rookie of the Year.
A Berkley High School
graduate who was a mem-
ber of the National Honor
Society there, Nodler has
stayed strong in the class-
room.
The computer science
major was one of 110
Michigan State winter ath-
letes who were named to
the Big Ten’s Academic All-
Conference Team.
To be eligible for the
honor, a student must be on
a varsity team, be enrolled
full-time at his or her school
for a minimum of 12 months
and carry a cumulative
grade-point average of 3.0
or higher.
Nodler was selected in
the fifth round of the 2019
NHL draft by the Flames.
Josh Nodler
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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