Lady Huskies earn Buckeye 8 honors, head into sectionals

Lady Husky bowlers are being recognized for their talent and skill.

Three Harrison Central bowlers earned All-Buckeye honors at the Buckeye 8 Challenge in St. Clairsville. Junior Tayla Thompson, senior Sophie Bland and junior Jaylie Byers each finished in the top eight.

Thompson placed third out of 48 competitors with a score of 493. Bland finished sixth with 479, and Byers placed eighth with 465.

Senior Sophie Bland said she was excited to earn Buckeye 8 honors. A three-year bowler, Bland said she enjoys spending time with teammates and continuing to learn the game.

“I would say my main goal is to make sure I always have fun,” Bland said.

Harrison Central placed second as a team. Buckeye Local won the team title.

Nine schools participated in the Buckeye 8 Challenge: Buckeye Local, Barnesville, St. Clairsville, East Liverpool, Union Local, Beaver Local, Brooke, Martins Ferry and Harrison Central.

Byers later placed 4A/5A conference runner-up at the OVAC competition in Morgantown, West Virginia, with a score of 600. She also tied the Harrison Central High School record for a 247 game, previously held by Aleyna Runevitch.

A nine-year bowler, Byers said her goal is to qualify for the state tournament before she graduates. She plans to pursue culinary studies in baking and pastries after graduation and said she wants to attend a college with a bowling alley so she can continue bowling, either on a team or in a league.

The Lady Huskies will begin sectional play Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Boulevard Lanes in Dover.