Lapeer Community Schools is proud to announce that Tony Asaro has been named the head coach for the Girls Varsity Bowling program.
Asaro will also continue to coach the district’s middle school bowling program as well.
“I am very honored for this opportunity to lead the Lapeer Lightning Girls Bowling program,” said Asaro. “This team is packed with experienced bowlers who have been bowling together for years. I can already see the potential; these girls are going to be a powerhouse on the lanes for seasons to come. I can barely contain my excitement to kick off the upcoming season and witness firsthand the incredible things this team will achieve.
“Coaching the sport that I am passionate about feels like my true calling.”
Asaro, the driving force behind Lapeer’s middle school bowling team for the last two seasons, began as an assistant coach for the team, honing his skills and building a foundation for success. And his passion for nurturing young athletes extends beyond the bowling alley.
In 2020, he volunteered his time and expertise to Lapeer’s middle school track and field team, guiding shot put hopefuls to new heights. Back in the early 2000s, Asaro was an assistant coach for shot put and discus at Powers Catholic High School, where he guided one talented athlete all the way to all-state honors.
“As girls bowling continues to get more competitive across our area, we knew we had to get a coach that would continue to build upon the foundation that has been created and push these athletes to new levels, and we believe we have that with Tony,” said Lapeer Community Schools athletic director Shad Spilski. “He has bowled at a high level himself and has the ability to teach our student-athletes and help them improve. I’m thrilled to have Tony as our new girls varsity bowling coach and I can’t wait to see the results in just a few short weeks.”
Bowling isn't just a hobby for Asaro – it's a way of life. Every Monday night, you'll find him hitting the lanes for his own league. But his dedication to the sport doesn't stop there. Two days a week, he's cheering on his kids at their practices, and Saturday mornings are all about assisting the next generation of bowlers at the kids' league.
And if that's not enough, he's always ready to lend a hand to young bowlers throughout the area, offering tips and encouragement whenever he can. Asaro jokes that Gerlach's Bowling Center is his second home from fall to spring, and once summer rolls around, he trades his bowling ball for an umpire's mask at the Elba baseball and softball complex.
For Asaro, it's all about giving back to the sports he loves and helping kids shine, both on the lanes and on the field.
Asaro graduated from Powers in 1999, and his journey took a romantic turn when he met Michelle (McQueen) Asaro, a 2002 Lapeer West graduate and former athlete. The two tied the knot in 2007, and the couple has two children. Their daughter, Isabellah, is a bright sophomore at Lapeer High School who bowled for LHS in the MHSAA State Finals individual competition her freshman year, and their son, Jackson, is an eighth grader at Zemmer, making his mark as well.