Mike Evans and Alex Smith Win A WPIAL Championship Together

Franklin Regional wide receiver, Mike Evans, signed to play football for Robert Morris University on February 12th 2019.

Source: Franklin Regional High School Website

Franklin Regional wide receiver, Mike Evans, had one heck of a football season in 2018. This past football season, he led the team in receptions (32) and receiving yards (805). Evans also scored 10 touchdowns and was a key player in beating Bethel Park 56-28 in the first round of the WPIAL 5A football playoffs. Evans recorded 7 receptions for 243 yards and three of Evans's 7 receptions were touchdowns.

On February 12th 2019, Evans signed to play football at the Division 1 level for Robert Morris University. Evans is excited to jump into college and start playing football again. He really enjoyed his visit at Robert Morris University before he got his offer and signed to the school. He seemed to be impressed by the RMU coaching staff. "After listening to the coaches' talk, it was evident to me that they are on the right path to bringing RMU back to a dominant program. I cannot wait to put on a uniform in the fall and compete at the Division 1 level," said Evans.

Evans learned a lot about football in his four years on the Franklin Regional squad. "After being injured my junior and freshman seasons, I learned to push through all adversity, if you truly have a goal because all of the hard work has payed off up to this point and I am able to live my dream of playing D1 football. I enjoyed the entire High School football experience, mostly being with my brothers for years going after the same goal and competing every Friday night like it was my last. It’s hard to imagine anything could replace the memories I've had from my 4 years of high school football," said Evans.

After the football season ended for Evans, he wanted to try something new in his senior year of high school. He joined the bowling team at Franklin Regional. "I wanted to try something different that would be fun to do in my last high school offseason. I also had buddies doing it," said Evans. Evans is not a full-time starter for the Franklin Regionals Boys Bowling team as he only bowled two games in the regular season and averaged 148.50. That is actually pretty good for someone who is bowling for their first year.

Franklin Regional's Boys Bowling team had a pretty good regular season as they finished with an 8-2 record and qualified for the 2019 WPIBL Boys Bowling championship at Nesbits Lanes in Plum. This event happened last Wednesday Februay 13th 2019. Going into WPIBL championship day, Hempfield, North Allegheny, Plum, Norwin and Armstrong were considered favorites to win the WPIBL title. Not a lot of people were favoring Franklin Regional, even though they won the WPIBL championship the season before in 2018. Franklin Regional bowler, Alex Smith, wanted to show Western Pennsylvania that he wanted to be a 2x WPIAL champion in bowling and he and the rest of his teammates were able to prove that.

Evans did not play in the WPIBL championship for Franklin Regional; but, he was there as one of the 2 extras for the team and if Franklin Regional won the WPIBL championship that day, he would be a WPIAL champion and get a ring, even as being a backup. Well, guess what?

Franklin Regional knocked down the most pins in the qualifying round (2,728) and they were able to move on to the Baker championship game. They had to play North Allegheny in the Baker championship game. Whichever team wins two baker games out of three become WPIAL champions. Franklin Regional won the first two baker games by scores of 161-160 and 156-155. Yeah, they won both baker games by one point and with that Franklin Regional are back to back WPIAL champions and Mike Evans is a WPIAL champion. After the 2019 WPIBL Boys Championship Franklin Regional bowler, Alex Smith, was named to the All-WPIBL team as he bowled a total of 703 in the qualifying round before the baker game.

Put yourself in Evans shoes. Imagine working hard at football for 4 years, becoming the star player on the team and not winning a WPIAL championship. Then, join a sport in your senior year of high school for fun and win a WPIAL championship in which you were not even the star on the team. Evans did not expect to see himself a WPIAL champion in a sport other than football. "I would have never thought I would get to be a part of the team that went to the WPIAL championship. I started off bowling mainly as just something to do, but it ended up being extremely fun and the championship was more intense than people would think at a first glance," said Evans. Evans also participates on the Track and Field team at Franklin Regional and is pretty good.

If Evans does not win a WPIAL championship in Track and Field, he'll know that no matter what he will be always a WPIAL champion because he decided to try something new in his senior year of high school in bowling and turned out he really enjoyed it. Robert Morris University has a Men's bowling team; but, Evans might not have time to participate on the team due to football.

Evans got to become closer with one of his bowling teammates in Alex Smith. Evans seemed to have respect for Evans after watching him bowl throughout the season. "Anyone who knows or has seen anything about Alex knows he is an unbelievable bowler. I told him the other day to not forget me when he makes it to the pros, because he truly is just that good. What stands out above his bowling though his how humble he is. You will never see him put anybody down, and only see him smirk a little even when he’s bowling a 270+ game," said Evans.

A couple days after Smith won his 2nd WPIAL Bowling championship, he bowled two straight 300 games and bowled an 879 series in a Saturday morning bowling league that he participates in. Smith bowled that 879 series at Nesbits Lanes, the same lane he got that 2nd WPIAL championship just a couple of days before.

Mike Evans is going to get a WPIAL championship ring in bowling and when he gets that ring he is going to be so happy. Franklin Regional's Boys Bowling team will compete in the WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL Championships on Saturday March 9th 2019 at North Versailles Bowl.