Newton boys fall short of state bowling

PLEASANT HILL — Newton’s boys’ bowling team had the top Baker scores at the Class 2A District meet at Great Escape on Wednesday.

The Cardinals were just too far behind before that. Newton finished fourth as a team at the state qualifying meet with freshman Owen Guldberg and senior Ben Zeien finishing in the top 10 individually.

“We’re very proud of the progress the boys have made as a team this year,” Newton bowling coach Christie Hughes said. “They bowled their highest event series of the season today.”

That season-best score for Newton was 2,777. The Cardinals had a 970 in the Baker games.

Ottumwa won the district championship with a 3,216 as the Bulldogs had the top three individuals and punched their ticket to the state tournament as a team.

The rest of the field included host Bondurant-Farrar (3,021) and Oskaloosa (2,895) in second and third, respectively, and Norwalk (2,727) and Pella (2,308) in fifth and sixth, respectively.

Bondurant-Farrar missed qualifying for state as an at-large team by fewer than 100 pins. It took a 475 series to qualify for an at-large berth individually.

“It’s a bittersweet end to the season as we lose two of our senior bowlers from the varsity team,” Hughes said. “Ben and Thomas will be greatly missed but we wish them the best of luck.”

Ottumwa’s top two bowlers had a series of 500 or better. Guldberg led the Cardinals with a career-best 412 series as he rolled single games of 203 and 209. He finished ninth overall.

Zeien was 10th overall with a 395 series after rolling individual games of 193 and 202.

Senior Thomas Hodnett was next for Newton with a 359 series. He had single games of 177 and 182. Freshman Sebastian King rolled a 332 series with single games of 133 and 199.

Junior Dallas King turned in single games of 171 and 138 for a 309 series and sophomore Logan Bown had a 285 series with individual games of 141 and 144.

“Owen Guldberg really stepped up today and led the team. That’s a pretty hard task for a freshman,” Hughes said. “We’ll be looking forward to what Owen and Sebastian bring to next year’s team. I have no doubt that Logan and Dallas will continue to develop their skills in the offseason.

“It has been such a pleasure coaching this boys’ bowling team.”

Joining Ottumwa at the 2A state meet will be Fort Dodge, Urbandale, Clinton, Independence, North Scott, LeMars and Cedar Rapids Xavier.