Brody West’s Waffle House Arm Sleeve and a State Podium Finish: A Bowling Story Worth Savoring
Before his junior season even began, Brody West had one request for his mom-not a new ball, not shoes, not even gear to improve his game. No, the Friendship Christian bowler had his eyes on something a little more... flavorful.
A black arm sleeve. But not just any sleeve-this one was stamped with the unmistakable yellow and black of Waffle House, the 24/7 Southern staple that’s as much a cultural icon as it is a place to grab hashbrowns at 2 a.m.
“I got two of them,” West said, laughing. “I got two so I could switch them out, but I haven’t switched them yet.”
And while the sleeve sat idle during the regular season and even early in the postseason, West was saving it for the biggest stage: the TSSAA Division II individual state championship at Smyrna Bowling Center. Why wait?
“Because it’s state,” he said with a grin. “Because it’s fun and just a good time to wear it.”
Call it superstition or just good vibes, but the sleeve made its debut as West rolled his way to a third-place finish in the DII boys championship. Starting as the sixth and final seed in the semifinals, he clawed his way through the ladder format and came within one match of the title bout.
His early games-175 and 180-were all about finding rhythm and settling in.
“The first two matches were just about getting comfortable and finding a good stable line,” West said. “It was all about having a good mindset and not getting too amped up.”
Once he found that line, he caught fire. West posted scores of 196 and 245 in the middle rounds, then closed the semis with a pair of 187s to secure his spot in the finals bracket.
And that’s when the fireworks really started.
In his first ladder match, West came out swinging-four straight strikes to open, three more to close, and a commanding 234-169 win over JPII’s Ethan Jacob.
He kept the momentum rolling with two more upsets. Against FRA’s John Campbell, West delivered five strikes and five spares.
Then he took down St. Benedict’s Brady St.
Gelais with a balanced attack of eight strikes and spares combined.
“I had a lot of momentum going,” he said. “It was really fun. I just kept the same mindset every game - just to win and then have a good line.”
His run ended in the final ladder match against Harding Academy freshman Kayden Curry, who edged West 197-170 before going on to win the championship. For West, the finish wasn’t about disappointment-it was about battling through tricky lane conditions and leaving it all out there.
“It was just hard to find a good line,” West said. “The lanes kind of got funky and kind of broken down. It was just hard.”
Still, third place in the state-and a Waffle House sleeve debut that just might become a tradition.
Division I: Determann Delivers for Mt. Juliet
Over in the Division I boys championship, Mt. Juliet sophomore Will Determann came in hot and stayed hot-at least until his final game. He delivered three games of 200 or more across six semifinal rounds, averaging a strong 215.2 to earn the No. 2 seed heading into the finals ladder.
Only Siegel’s Westyn Griffin posted a higher average-and Griffin eventually claimed the state title.
Determann, though, had his eyes on that final showdown. But first, he had to get past Science Hill senior Peyton Abel.
That’s where things went sideways. Determann posted his lowest score of the day, a 148, and fell 225-148, ending his state run with a third-place finish.
Still, for a sophomore, it was a statement performance-and a sign that Mt. Juliet has a serious contender in its ranks for the next two seasons.
Other Notable Boys Performances
- Issac Craig (Mt. Juliet, Senior): Craig finished 14th in the Division I boys championship, averaging 198 over six games. He opened strong with 221 and 212, then capped his career with a personal-best 247 in his final game-a fitting sendoff for the Golden Bear.
- Zane Denney (Friendship Christian, Junior): Denney entered the DII semifinals as the No. 15 seed and held that spot through the end. He averaged 174.2, with a high of 199 in his next-to-last game.
- Peyton Brown (Friendship Christian, Sophomore): Brown rounded out Friendship Christian’s trio at state with a 21st-place finish in Division II. He averaged 161.7 and posted a high of 186.
- Briggs Payne (Green Hill, Sophomore): Payne led Green Hill’s boys qualifiers with a 24th-place finish in Division I. He rolled a 214 in his second game and averaged 172.2.
- LJ Grimaldi (Green Hill, Sophomore): Grimaldi landed in 32nd place, matching Payne’s 172.2 average and logging a personal-best 205 in his fourth game.
Girls Division I: D’Avirro, Johnson Lead the Way
- Nicola D’Avirro (Green Hill, Senior): D’Avirro closed out her high school career with a 10th-place finish in the Division I girls championship. The Cumberland University signee rolled a personal-best 184 in her final game and averaged 167.7 across the board.
- Emylie Johnson (Lebanon, Junior): Johnson surged late, using a 206 in her final game to finish 12th overall with a 166.2 average.
- Savannah Wilhoite (Mt. Juliet, Senior): After entering state as the top seed from regionals, Wilhoite finished 18th with a 160.7 average. The Tennessee Wesleyan commit wrapped up an impressive prep career for the Bears.
- Lindsey Nelson (Green Hill, Junior): Nelson followed right behind Wilhoite in 19th place. She opened with a 186 and averaged 160.7 over six games.
- Ellie Anderson (Mt. Juliet, Sophomore): Anderson slotted into 20th place, highlighted by a 211 in her second game and a 159.5 average.
- Jordyn Yeargin (Green Hill, Freshman): Making her first state appearance, Yeargin finished 42nd with a high game of 156 and a 130.7 average.
From Waffle House sleeves to breakout sophomore performances, the TSSAA state bowling championships delivered plenty of storylines. Whether it was Brody West’s electric run, Will Determann’s near-title bid, or the strong showings from Wilson County’s girls, the lanes at Smyrna were packed with rising talent, big finishes, and a whole lot of heart.