Staff report
The Sidney High bowling teams were busy recently, taking on Vandalia in a conference match and then competing in the Team USA Experience.
The Sidney boys defeated a previously unbeaten Vandalia team in action at Bel-Mar Lanes. Sidney had 2441 to Vandalia’s 2187.
The win put Sidney at 1-0 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division and 6-3 overall.
Jamie Wallis led the way for Sidney, rolling a 279 in his first game and adding a 204 for a 483 series. Matt Elliott added games of 201 and 233 for a 434, and Austin Simon had a 206 and a 212 for a 418.
Also for Sidney, Josh Abbott rolled 186 and 204 games for a 390, and Damon Huffman had a 167 and a 223, also for a 390.
Sidney lost both baker games, but was well ahead after the regular games.
“Jamie has put in a lot of work this season,” coach Trent Knoop said of Wallis. “We changed his bowling form up a little in the offseason, and he is bowling extremely well. Being at home against a good team always helps, and our boys were ready to bowl. They had a very good day, and I expect it to continue.”
GWOC North boys standings — Sidney 1-0 (6-3), Piqua 1-0 (2-2), Troy 1-0 (3-6), Vandalia 0-1 (4-1), Trotwood 0-1, (0-1), Greenville 0-1 (0-2)
The Sidney girls were also victorious, 2012 t 1948. It gave the Lady Jackets a 1-0 GWOC North mark and a 6-3 overall record.
Jenna Beatty had a 385 series on games of 173 and 212, and Morgan Carey had a 355 series on games of 163 and 192. Katheryn Saunders added a 208 game, the highest game of her career.
“Kathryn has been a very reliable sixth man all year off the bench,” said Knoop os Saunders. “She doesn’t have the bowling experience like most of the girls, but she sure is picking things up quickly that I teach her. Butler girls have a good team, they are young like us, and it was a very good win for the Jackets.”
GWOC North girls standings — Troy 1-0 (9-0), Piqua 1-0 (3-1), Sidney 1-0 (6-3, Vandalia 0-1 (3-1), Trotwood 0-1 (0-1), Greenville 0-1 (0-2).
• On the following day, Saturday, the Sidney teams competed in the Team USA Experience and Poelking South in Dayton. The format was two regular team games, five baker games, and then it got cut to the top eight for best two-out-of-three match play.
Simon led Sidney with a 380 series on games of 184 and 196. Wallis rolled a 224 game, Sidney’s best of the day. Abbott had a 189 and Lucas Finke a 179.
“We rolled on a sport shot pattern, which is exactly what the pro bowlers compete on,” said Knoop. “It’s great experience for the kids, especially those that have aspirations to go onto college to bowl.
“We started off the first game very rough,” Knoop said. “We had 12 open frames not counting splits. The second game was better score-wise, but the spare shooting got worse. We had 13 open frames not counting splits. We bowled pretty well in the baker games. We qualified eighth for match play, and went up against tournament winner Wayne. We got beat the first two games to lose. For being such a tough shot, the boys rolled their bowling balls well, threw plenty of strikes, but once again our biggest issue was spare shooting.”
The girls were led by Heather Gold with a 325 series on games of 157 and 168. Ariona Grisham rolled a 157 game.
“The girls rolled a 701 for the first game,” said Knoop. “They dropped down to a 628 team score for the second game. They were sitting in 10th place going into the baker games. They rolled a 798 in baker, which is pretty good for the lane conditions. But they fell short of making match play. The girls stayed in 10th place for the tournament. They bowled okay this weekend, and it was great experience. Most of the girls have never bowled on these type of conditions. Nothing beats experience, and you can’t teach that. I think this weekend helped out a bunch in the experience category.”
