Cavaliers finish runner-up to Urbana

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

After a strong showing in the qualifying, the Coldwater boys rolled their way through the first two rounds of the Division II state bowling finals before taking a tough four-game loss to Urbana on Friday at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl.

"We knew it was going to be a dogfight," Coldwater bowling coach Rick Hartings said. "Scores were really high all day. We bowled well in qualifying. Everybody was bowling well."

The Cavaliers were the top seed after bowling a team and Division II state record 3,367 in the three regulation and three baker game format. Cory Whitacre bowled a 704 series in qualifying, enough to finish fifth as an individual and earn first team All-Ohio honors. Tyler Wenning (680) placed 11th and Ben Schmitmeyer (672) finished 15th to earn third team All-Ohio honors. Joe Teeters of Mississinawa Valley, a member of the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference, set a state tournament record with a 276 game and finished with a 748 series to earn state medalist honors.

"We started out good. We had five guys throwing the ball really well." Hartings said. "There were some very good scores (from other teams). (Coldwater) stepped up, kept with it and kept the pace high. Being number one seed is good."

St. Henry was unable to make it to the top eight that moved on to the championship round, finishing 14th in prelims with a 2,743 score. Trey Buehler led the Redskins with a 585 series with brother Troy rolling a 583 series. St. Marys' Austin Cook just missed on earning All-Ohio honors with a 664 series.

Coldwater faced Struthers in the championship quarterfinals, winning the best-of-five match in three games (222-185, 227-213, 206-189) to advance and face WOHSC member Shawnee. The Cavs and Indians split the first two games (224-148 Coldwater and 211-172 Shawnee) before Coldwater claimed the match with wins of 278-163 and 186-178 in the final two games.

The first game of the championship match between the Cavaliers and Hillclimbers went to extra frames after tying at 196, Urbana won 39-28 in the roll-off to take game one. Coldwater quickly tied the match with a 275-236 win in game two, but it was Urbana's day as the Hillclimbers won the final two games 184-174 and 222-203 to claim the title.

"Urbana's good," Hartings said. "We had a couple bad breaks in games we won. It was a team effort. I'm really proud of the guys."

The Coldwater girls get their chance to repeat as state champions when they take the lanes this morning.