Newton High’s Cardinal bowlers dominated Pella Christian’s Eagles on Senior Day Saturday. Four of the five seniors on the NHS bowling teams led the Cardinals to the dual wins in their final home meet of the season at Cardinal Lanes.
Before action began Saturday morning, Newton recognized seniors Melanie Stice, Erica Bailey, Alex Bare and Payton Cox. Courtney Tabor wasn’t present Saturday because of commitment to a NHS school band event.
“We did well as a team today,” said Stice, who bowled a clean game — all strikes and spares — for a 214 in the opening game of the competition. “It was nice today. It wasn’t a lot of sadness like I pictured there’d be as the final home meet as a senior. This was my first meet coming back from an injury.”
It was Bailey leading the Cardinal girls with a 360 series to a win of 623 pins over Pella Christian. Newton’s girls posted a 2,408-1,785 victory. Bailey put up games of 179 and 181, Stice had the only 200 game for the girls on her way to a 358 series.
“It was fun,” Bailey said of her final home meet as a senior. “It’s been a good season so far for me as an individual and for us as a team. I think we’re going to be good as we head into our final regular season meets, the conference and substate.”
A few lanes down from the Newton girls, the Newton boys were piling a large-margin win of their own against Pella Christian. The Cardinal boys led the Eagles 1,806-1,232 following the individual games on their way to a 2,556-1,845 victory.
Bare and Cox paced the NHS boys. Each rolled a 200 game in the individual games. Bare tallied a 398 series with games of 206 and 192 while Cox bowled games of 173 and 205 for a 378 series.
“It was bittersweet today,” Cox said. “The bad part is leaving the team at the end of the season, but I’ll be going on to bigger and better things. I’ve enlisted in the Navy.
“We bowled pretty well today and stuck together even when we struggled a bit in the Baker games.”
Bare is a four-year member of the bowling team and Cox have bowled three years for Newton.
“Today could have been better, but I bowled OK,” Bare said. “As a team, we need to focus more during a meet. My best memories are bowling well in regionals and going to state as a team last year. I’m looking forward to repeating that this year as a senior.”
Nick VerSteeg was the third highest bowler for the Newton boys Saturday with a 375 (167-208). Shaiden Simmons posted a 348 (189-159) and Reid Miller had a 307 (166-141). Shea Carre bowled a 302 (164-138). The boys’ Baker games scores were 181-150-123-128-168 for a 750.
For the Newton girls, Madison Humphrey also had a clean game to open the competition with her 191 and finished with a second-high score of 359. Mariah Gonzales had a 358 (147-166) and Kaytie Hughes finished with a 223 (118-105). Alyssa White rolled a 218 (93-125). The girls’ Baker games scores were 156-181-192-124-143 for a 795 total.
“Coming into today’s dual, we knew we had the advantage of bowling at home,” Humphrey said. “Our goal was to have a 2,500 pin total and we came close to it (2,408). That’s great because we’re close to what we want as we get closer to substate.”
Bailey, Stice and Tabor are four-year bowlers for the girls’ team.
“The boys and girls both finished above their team season averages,” said Brett Jacobs, Newton head coach. “I still would like to see both teams bowl at least 100 pins higher from where they were today. I would like to see the boys shooting 2,700-2,800 and the girls shooting around 2,500-2,600. I feel that is where we should be at to be able to compete at the substate and state meets.”
Newton has two more regular season meets — Saturday at Oskaloosa and Feb. 7 at Norwalk — and the Little Hawkeye Conference meet at Oskaloosa on Feb. 13.
The Newton teams have been assigned to the Class 2A District 1 state qualifier tournament along with Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines North and Norwalk on Feb. 17. The 2A District 1 tournament along with the Class 3A District 1 tournament are hosted by Ankeny at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines.
Newton’s junior varsity were successful in the final home meet Saturday. The girls were unopposed and had a 1,940. Newton’s boys beat Pella Christian, 2,295-1,584.
Junior varsity girls’ scores: Ali Cox, 283 (162-121), Kirsten Young, 271 (126-145), Hayley Sinclair, 252 (127-125), Lizzy Coyle, 229 (99-130), Kayla Sopher, 211 (107-104). Baker games scores: 170-145-122-97-130—684.
Junior varsity boys’ scores: Reece Thurmond, 361 (210-151), Sam Supino 317 (159-158), Michael Hodnett, 304 (129-175), Austin Johansen, 292 (149-143), Tayler Hernandez, 275 (165-110), Zion Dickey, 270 (149-121). Baker games scores: 151-139-169-151-136 — 746.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com