March 28, 2024

Cardinal girls claim fifth straight bowling conference title; boys third

OSKALOOSA — It doesn’t matter what the name of the bowling conference is — Little Hawkeye or Two Rivers — Newton High’s girls marked up their fifth consecutive conference championship.

The Cardinal girls claimed the 2019 Two Rivers Bowling Conference — formerly the LHC — title by almost a 200-pin count on Saturday at Mahaska Bowl in Oskaloosa. Newton finished head of host Oskaloosa 2,495-2,240.

Third place went to Bondurant-Farrar at 2,210 followed by Knoxville at 2,200. Norwalk was fifth with 1,980, Pella Christian was sixth at 1,774 and Pella was seventh at 980.

In the boys’ division, Newton’s Cardinals were third with a 2,845 pin count. Oskaloosa’s boys won the TRBC title with a 3,120 score. Pella was second at 2,937 and Bondurant-Farrar took fourth with 2,651 followed by Knoxville at 2,592, Pella Christian at 2,412 and Norwalk at 2,365.

“Our bowlers did a remarkable job at conference. Coach (Gina) McGinley and I are so proud of their bowling and the sportsmanship they show on the lanes,” Newton head coach Christie Hughes said. “It was awesome witnessing bowlers from all the teams giving high fives and congratulating each other.”

Newton sophomore Jenna Miller won the individual girls’ title with a 381 series on games of 190 and 191. The Cardinals placed five in the top 10 in the conference.

Leading the Cardinal boys was junior Nate Keith, who finished second in the boys’ individual round. Keith had a 462 series with games of 203 and 259. Newton had two in the top 10.

“Nate Keith and Jenna Miller really stepped up and bowled their highest series each,” Hughes said.

Claiming All-Two Rivers Bowling Conference first-team honors for Newton were junior Carter VanderSchel for the boys, and sophomore Tanya Hernandez, senior Keely Birkenholtz and sophomore Abby Price for the girls.

Taking second-team all-conference honors were senior Cutter Benac for the boys, and senior Alicia Miller and Jenna Miller for the girls. Senior Taylor Johnson earned honorable mention honors for the Newton girls.

For the conference meet, Price had a 362 (150-212) for fourth, Hernandez had a 341 (181-160) took sixth and Birkenholtz had a 322 (182-140). Johnson was ninth at 313 (168-145). Alicia Miller finished with a 273 (127-146).

Newton’s girls had a 1,719-1,518 lead over Oskaloosa going into the Baker Games. They had a 775 final Baker Games total on scores of 127, 153, 160, 168 and 167.

VanderSchel was No. 2 for the Cardinal boys on Saturday, finishing ninth overall with a 398 (143-255). Junior Alex Frymoyer was 11th at 391 (160-231). Benac had a 342 (166-176) followed by sophomore Thomas Hodnett at 338 (159-179) and junior Eli Ingle at 320 (175-145).

The boys had a 1,931 score after the individual series. They posted a 914 Baker Games total with scores of 237, 143, 165, 137 and 232.

“We have one last practice before the state qualifying meet scheduled for Tuesday. We’ve got a great team of bowlers and they are ready for the competition,” Hughes said.

Newton’s boys and girls bowl in a Class 2A state qualifying meet at 11 a.m.on Tuesday in Ottumwa. The Class 2A state bowling meet is Feb. 19 in Waterloo.