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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