The Cougars remain the only two-time champion, and they believe they can become the first three-time champion when the state tournament begins at 11 a.m. today at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. It won’t be easy. Three of the top four teams from last year are back: defending state champion Troy, Wapakoneta and Struthers.
“This team is capable of winning, no doubt,” Kenton Ridge coach Scott Ark said. “It just depends on what the lane conditions are. If the lane conditions are conducive for our team to throw good shots all day, we should be all right. If it’s really dry, we’re going to struggle because we have a lot of guys who hook the ball.”
The Cougars won the sectional tournament and tied for second at the district tournament last weekend. Sophomore Michael McKee led the team at the district tournament, winning the individual title with a 732 series.
“I went out and just felt it,” McKee said. “I threw the ball where I wanted to every time.”
McKee’s performance is another sign of the team’s depth. Senior Mitch Boisel has led the team all year in average, but Kyle Beers had the team’s best score at the sectional meet (648). Last weekend, it was McKee’s turn to step up, with Boisel, senior Jared Armentrout and junior Jared Carter also all topping 600.
“I didn’t care who won, as long as we were going to state again,” Boisel said. “It’s awesome.”
“It’s just the team coming together,” Armentrout said. “It’s a thrill.”
The area has two other individual qualifiers:
• Southeastern junior Trey Cooper finished sixth at the district tournament. He is Southeastern’s first state qualifier in bowling.
• Mechanicsburg senior Kyle Mayberry finished fifth at district. He is the first Mechanicsburg bowler to qualify for state three times. He finished 23rd last season.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or David.Jablonski@coxinc.com.
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