The Falcons girls make their second straight state (and overall) appearance at the Division II tournament on Friday. Graham finished seventh. Coach Rich Clark thinks the environment had something to do with that.
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“When the bracket round started the parents and the fans started cheering so loud that we couldn’t hear each other on the lanes,” Clark said. “It was an eye-opening experience for our girls. It was the first time we experienced anything like that. I think that’s going to help us this year.”
It already has. Clark said his team was more relaxed at last week’s district meet, which the Falcons won over traditional powers Northwestern and Versailles.
Seniors Olivia Van Hoose, Emily Evans and Libby Hennings return from last year’s state team. Evans and Hennings finished fourth and fifth, respectively, to make the all-district team. Van Hoose and senior Jade Maloney finished among the top 15.
Freshman Paityn Dowty is the fifth bowler. Senior Emily Baker and sophomore Lauren Woodruff are the substitutes.
The tournament is held at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. The D-II boys follow Saturday with their state championship.
The area is well represented with five teams. That’s nothing new from this hotbed of bowling.
“I don’t know what it is about Champaign County and the CBC,” Clark said. “It just seems like year in and year out some of the top bowlers in the state – teamwise and individual wise – come from this area. We had a group come through that’s really dedicated and has worked hard. It’s just our time right now.
“I would like to say thank you to all the bowling centers in Champaign County. All three at one time or another has helped our kids. … It’s great that all centers in Champaign County are in it for the kids.”
Northwestern (girls): The Warriors, who have qualified for state six straight seasons, finished second at the district meet with seniors Allie Barrett, Kaylee Parrett, Megan Fricke, juniors Kacie Russell, Allie Emory and sophomores Natalie Parrett and Leah Bainbridge.
The Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division champs finished sixth at state last season and have the potential for a run to the state finals.
Greenon (girls): This is the first state appearance for the program, boys or girls. Sophomore Mackenzie Blair, freshman Kay Devore, sophomore Taylor Blanton, sophomore Makenzie Gossett and sophomore Mikayla Blair are the starters with sophomore Jada Jones and seniors Lacey Webb and Haven Davis the subs.
Gossett was the Knights’ first-ever state representative when she qualified as an individual last season.
The Ohio Heritage Conference champs trailed at the district meet by 114 pins before rallying in the Baker games.
Kenton Ridge (boys): The CBC Kenton Trail division champs make their fifth appearance and first since 2016. The 2009 and 2010 state champs won the district tournament for the first time and roll into state behind Kenton Trail Conference bowler of the year Brandon Watkins.
Seniors Landyn Inglis, Maverick Duncan, Brad Dansingburg and Alan Northern, junior Brent Wyburn and freshmen Justin Pitt and Riley Leedale join Watkins at state.
Mechanicsburg (boys): Junior Ethan Edwards is the lone state participant from last season's D-II state champions, but the OHC champions — 10 years running — have reloaded.
Freshman Peyton Leeson was the district champ and OHC bowler of the year. Joining them for the program’s fourth appearance at state are juniors Jonathan (JP) Marsh and Andrew Lynch, sophomore Deacon Morgan and freshmen Bryen Dewitt, Eli Mayberry and Jack Wolf.
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