Warrior, Rocket bowling teams state bound!

By Carol McIntire

Editor

Carrollton and Conotton Valley teams swept the four qualifying slots from the Division  II East District for the state bowling championships during district action Feb. 22 at Coshocton. 

Carrollton won the boys division and Conotton Valley placed second. Conotton Valley won the girls division and Carrollton placed second. 

The teams will compete this weekend, March 1 and 2 at H.P.L. Bowling Center on the north side of Columbus. 

Minerva placed third,103 points behind the Warriors in the girls competition.

Owen Frazier, who qualified for the district tournament as an individual, placed 15 individually and 11th out of the individuals who did not qualify on a team. Only the top two individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to the state tournament.

  On the boys side, the Warriors held a 62-pin advantage over the Rockets after the individual games 2,495- 2,433. 

Carrollton’s tallied Baker scores of 154,187,139,176 and 191 for a 994 total. The Rockets posted scores of 212,156,124,163, 183 and 189 for a 1,027 total and pulled to within 29 pins in the final score, 3,489-3.460.

The teams placed three bowlers in the top five led by Rocket senior Bobby Brennan who laid down games of 192, 227 and 178 for a 597 series, which earned him the individual title. 

Carrollton junior Bryce Taylor place third with a 582 series (181, 228, 173). Rocket Nathan Downing, a sophomore, rolled a 565 series (205, 175, 185) to place fifth. 

Other Carrollton scores were Jace Eckinger 517 (173, 167,164), Nelson Grimm, Brock Oberlin and Khalen Green all bowled partial series.

Other Conotton scores included Logan Slutz 476 (128, 163,185), Zack Parker 413 (126, 134,153), Drew Herron bowled two games and Brody Brown one. 

 “This team has exceeded all expectations everyone set for this season,” said Conotton Valley Coach Joelle Ellis. “Any time you lose four seniors, only have two returning starters and a new coach, you never quite know what to expect.”

“There have been so many times this season we fell just a little short of our goal, but we are peaking at the right time, and we are looking forward to going out and competing Friday in Columbus.”

The Lady Rockets, after winning the sectional title a week prior at Boulevard lanes, took the lead in the individual games and never looked back.  The winners tallied a 2,536 score in the individual games. Minerva sat in second at 2,322 and Carrollton third at 2,301.

The Warriors and Rockets bowled identical Baker 991 scores while the Lions put down an 869. The score lifted Carrollton past the Lions to claim the second qualifying slot. At the sectional tournament, the Lions placed second and the Warriors third. 

Conotton finished the day with a score of 3,527, Carrollton 3,292 and Minerva 3,189.

“Going into districts we knew it would be a challenge to make the top two teams competing against Conotton and Minerva,” explained Carrollton Coach Wendy Russell. “We had a rough second game and then came back with a great third game. I knew we were down 21 pins to Minerva, which was sitting in second place at the time. We had a low Baker game first then changed the lineup and regrouped to shoot a 214 and finished with four more pretty solid Bakers to claim the second slot.”

Carrollton senior Zoey Elliott placed sixth individually and paced the Carrollton team with a 495 series (145, 158,192). Kaylee Russell placed eighth and added a 482 (160, 183,139) while Abby Natcher laid down 451 (139, 115, 197) and Hailee Ullman 432 (184, 112,135).  

Rocket Coach Brian Baxter was equally pleased with his team’s performance. 

“Our girls have worked hard all season long to get to this point,” Baxter said. “After losing three starters from our championship team, we had expectations to meet. We had new bowlers step up to the plate as well as bowlers who were previously on junior varsity, and everyone has played the role they needed to play. We are proud to have a 20-0 season and get back to the state tournament. We continue to work on spares and lane transition and no matter the outcome of at the state tournament we are extremely proud of our girls this season.”

Rocket Mylie Galigher finished runner-up in the individual scores with games of 246,181 and 190 for 617 series. Mackenzie Willoughby placed fifth with a 535 (163,201,171) and Delilah Williams added a 482 (153, 159, 170) and Lillian Booth 358 (161, 162, 117).

 Boys state action begins Friday, March 1 at 10:45 a.m. with the qualifying round. The girls will compete, Saturday, March 2  at 10:45 a.m.