ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A new era for prep bowling in the Ohio Valley begins Saturday when the OVAC conducts its inaugural championships event for the sport at St. Clair Lanes.

Action begins at 10 a.m. with 17 boys teams taking to the venerable bowling center’s 20 lanes. Thirteen girls teams will follow about 3 p.m.

“We’re really busy,” event director Ken “Campy” Campanzzi said regarding preparations leading up to the first tournament.

“We’ve been emailing teams and getting rosters and things like that all week. It’s just busy work making sure we have all the names, etc, etc.”

As with any new event, there are a handful of bugs to work out, and that will need to be worked out as things move along. But “Campy” and the staff at St. Clair Lanes are well-schooled on running tournaments. The group has been overseeing Ohio sectionals for a handful of years, along with Buckeye 8 events.

The task this time has been making sure schools new to things are well-versed on what’s happening.

“We have new schools in West Virginia that we’ve been in touch with so they know what we’re doing,” Campanizzi explained.

Each team will roll three regular games, then four Baker games.

St. Clair Lanes is rolling out the red carpet, so to speak, for the tournament, which will bring in teams from up and down the region. Campanizzi said bleachers are being brought in to accommodate the expected large crowds, so there should be plenty of seating.

Rob Holubeck will be taking care of the results, while his brother, Gary, will be handling logistics at the center that the family has run for decades.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students.

Campanizzi is hoping for good weather and is eager to see how the event goes. He’s looking forward to a great day of bowling.

“It will be an all-day affair,” he said.