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Coldwater's Caleb Wendel finished second as an individual at the Division II boys state bowling tournament on Friday.
File photo
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
After a dominating qualifying round, the Coldwater boys bowling team suffered a tough loss in the opening round of championship play at the Division II state tournament at HP Lanes in Coldwater. The Cavaliers were looking to win a state title - the fifth in program history - after finishing runner-up in back-to-back seasons.
The Cavaliers started their day with an amazing run in the qualifying round. After bowling 1,011-1,042 in the first two games, Coldwater broke the state tournament record for highest score in bowling a 1,207 to head into the round of three baker games.
Coldwater continued its hot streak in the bakers, recording a 633 - second best total among the teams - to finish with a 3,893, 331 pins ahead of second seed Benjamin Logan, to easily take the top seed of the eight team championship bracket.
Coldwater took on eighth-seeded Liberty Center the quarterfinals of the best-of-five baker game format. The Tigers came out and won the opening game 236-213. Coldwater bounced back to take game two 267-202. LC took the third game 202-194.
Needing a win to stay alive, the Cavaliers dominated the fourth game 278-179 to force the fifth game.
In the final game, the Tigers pulled away to beat the Cavaliers 194-151 to relegate the Cavaliers to fifth in the final standings.
Marion Pleasant won the state title, defeating Akron Coventry in three straight games.
Coldwater's Caleb Wendel earned first team All-Ohio honors in finishing second in the individual standings with a 702 series. Cavalier Kayden Giere finished sixth overall with a 679 series to earn second team All-Ohio honors. Drew Eyink was 23rd overall with a 607 series.
Hanoverton United's Ethan Hively was the tournament medalist with a 726 series.
Versailles' Blake Henry earned an All-Ohio honorable mention with a 12th-place finish after bowling a 632. Minster's Xavier Kitzmiller finished 78th overall with a 474 series.
The Division II girls tournament, featuring St. Marys and Fort Recovery along with New Bremen's Marina Nelson, begins this morning.
