Cavs, Roughriders look to bring home gold

The drive for title number five nears an end for the Coldwater boys bowling team, which is determined to bring it home this season as the Cavaliers bowl Friday in the Division II state tournament at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl in Columbus.

With a lineup that features six bowlers who bowled at least one game in the tournament last season, coach Rick Hartings has high expectations after losing in the semifinals in 2021.

"We definitely got some depth and experience going our way," said Hartings. "It's going to be a tough field, but I like our chances."

Senior Caleb Sutherin and junior Keaton Bruns, the only Cavalier bowlers to throw perfect games in program history, are holdover from 2020's state championship team. Hayden Beougher led the Cavaliers at last week's district tournament, bowling a 683 series to help the team win the district title and punch its ticket to Columbus.

Coldwater has depth behind those three, as Hartings will not be afraid to tinker with the lineup or make substitutions on his eight-man roster to get the right five bowlers on the lanes.

Sutherin didn't bowl a regulation game at the district. Bruns only bowled one, throwing a 237.

Nathan Snook, who is the only senior besides Sutherin on the championship roster, fired a 598 series at Rossford last week, with junior Brandon Hammons rolling a 597 series. Sophomore Carter Bertke bowled two regulation games last week while sophomore Drew Eyink and freshman southpaw Austin Burden are at the ready in case Hartings needs a change.

"It's very competitive because we won't know who we'll start when we get there," said Hartings. "It's only a 15-minute warmup and whomever has a good look will go. Everybody's got to be ready."

The field for the state tournament is loaded. Defending state champion Mechanicsburg is back. Another team to watch out for is Midwest Athletic Conference rival Versailles, which defeated Coldwater in the conference tournament to force a co-championship after the Cavaliers ran the table in the regular season.

The goal for Hartings and his squad is simple: bowl well enough in qualifying to reach the top eight and secure a spot in the championship round.

"We'll go down Thursday, practice and see how it plays," said Hartings. "The name of the game is to be comfortable and get out to a good start on Friday morning and make the top eight. Once you it turns into match play (best-of-five baker game series in championship round), then you really have to be sharp."

Also representing the area is St. Henry senior Peyton Thomas, who qualified as an individual to state. Thomas bowled a 624 series in the district to earn a place.

GIRLS

The Division II girls state tournament will come to Wayne Webb's on Saturday, and St. Marys returns after missing last season. The Roughriders will look to win the program's third state title and first since 2019.

Coach Jay Gibson has a young group, with senior Emily Pond the only one with state experience from the 2020 team that finished fifth in qualifying and lost to eventual champion Bryan in the opening round of championship round play. Gibson has three juniors and four sophomores joining Pond on the roster for the state tournament.

Despite the youth movement, the Roughriders won the Western Buckeye League tournament and finished third overall in the league.

"We've had a lot of ups and down through the season," said Gibson. "I thought going in we'd have a good season in the WBL and in the postseason. It took awhile to come around. They started clicking at the right time."

The Roughriders finished third to snare the final qualifying spot at the Rossford district last week. A trio of sophomores provided the key rolls to help get the team to state. Allyson Speckman, a second team All-WBL selection, bowled a 522 series at district, two pins more than teammate Chloe Gibson's 520.

Kayla Homan added a 505 series, and the rest of the lineup split the remaining series. Junior Ali McCollister bowled two regulation games in qualifying with Cierra Vanover and Ella Kable each rolling one.

Coldwater junior Jasmine Schulze will represent her team as an individual at state after the Cavaliers finished sixth at the district. Schulze is a veteran at state after helping the Cavaliers win it all last year, finishing 10th as an individual in Columbus last season and in the top 25 as a freshman in 2020, when the Cavaliers were state runner-up.

Schulze, the MAC Girls Bowler of the Year, secured her spot at state by earning district medalist honors with a 609 series at Rossford.