Top bowlers in the CBC
Boys
Games Ave. High Game High Series
Michael McKee, Kenton Ridge 24 227.1 279 515
Luc Russell Urbana 26 223.4 278 512
KT Wallace Northwestern 23 215.0 278 533
Skyler Reisinger Urbana 12 212.8 279 488
Logan Wenger Benjamin Logan 27 210.4 247 475
Girls
Games Ave. High Game High Series
Sierra Kanemoto, Stebbins 32 213.2 260 505
Taylor Bodey, Urbana 26 203.8 255 474
Candace Oty, Northwestern 24 202.4 278 521
Erica Mack, Greenon 27 196.0 279 459
Abigail Ogden, Graham 33 195.9 274 498
Alyx Kearney, Kenton Ridge 24 195.9 243 437
The Urbana University men’s bowling team is ranked No. 9 in the nation. The women are No. 16. Even with that, the Blue Knights might not be coach Phil Baker’s biggest success story this season.
Baker also coaches the Urbana High School boys team, which hopes to make the program’s first appearance at the state tournament. The Hillclimbers’ girls team, coached by Kurt Scott, also has the talent to compete in Columbus.
These days it seems Urbana has bowling talent to, well, spare.
The Hillclimbers are a combined 30-2 overall and making a bid to sweep the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division. They hope that’s the first of several titles culminating in Columbus.
“That would be awesome,” freshman Luc Russell said of both teams qualifying for state. “That’s our goal for sure. If we don’t reach that goal we’re going to be down for a couple of days. We’ve had that picture in our minds. I told everybody, just picture yourself throwing that last ball to win state. It’s something we want to reach this year.”
The boys team (14-2, 10-2 CBC) is led by Russell with a 223.4 average. The girls (16-0, 12-0 CBC) are paced by Taylor Bodey (203.8). Both are ranked second in the CBC. Baker already received a commitment from Bodey to bowl at Urbana University. He’s hoping Russell sticks around town, too.
All of the Hillclimbers have benefited from practicing with and getting to know the college bowlers at the Southwest Bowling Center that Baker owns and operates.
“It’s definitely encouraging (practicing against college bowlers),” Russell said. “You just want to get those guys. More than likely they’ll beat me but I try to stay competitive as much as I can with them. I can stay with them, but some of the (oil patterns) they bowl on are things I haven’t seen.”
In addition to Russell, the boys are receiving strong performances from sophomore Skyler Reisinger (212.8), sophomore Kyle Schrader (198.4), senior Daniel Evilsizor (194.6), freshman Connor Prince (183.4) and junior Blaine Arms (181.1). That bowling has been split into two divisions will help the Hillclimbers’ bid for state.
“We’ve just never had a deep enough team to compete, especially when you’re competing against the big schools that have lots of potential for players,” Baker said.
For the girls, sophomore Paige Stokes (194.0), junior Ciera Marchal (188.0), junior Chelsey Copas (184.9) and senior Erika Michael (162.8) join Bodey. The team will also get freshman Madison Dolby (currently playing basketball) for the postseason.
“I believe we can make it to state,” Scott said. “We have a couple things we’ve been working on to get there. We can definitely make it to state going to two divisions. We don’t have to fight Centerville, Fairmont or those big schools. … One thing as a coach you have to appreciate is the girls all get along. They’re close friends and that makes a huge difference.”
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