Indian Valley boys bowling earns district berth

Indian Valley’s boys bowling team earned an automatic district berth with a sixth-place finish at the Division II sectional at St. Clair Lanes in St. Clairsville.

The Braves totaled 3,407 pins and held off East Liverpool by 10 pins for the final automatic qualifying spot.

Senior Robbie Jones led Indian Valley with a 518 series, including a 246 game. Senior Cale Dinger rolled a 495, sophomore Miles Blickensderfer posted a 481 and Brody Sellards added a 454.

Newcomerstown’s boys team placed 11th in the 24-team field. Sandy Valley finished 20th and Claymont was 24th.

Newcomerstown was led by senior Jaxson Mayo’s 600 series, which earned him one of six individual district qualifying spots. Senior Carter Fronssman rolled a 433 and junior Ryder Milligan posted a 412.

Sandy Valley was led by junior Jace Steiner’s 451 series, and senior Landen Boyer added a 442.

Claymont was led by senior Nathan Downing’s 549 series, leaving him one spot short of the final individual district berth. Junior Arnold Logan rolled a 423.

The Division II district bowling tournament for boys and girls was scheduled for Feb. 19 at Legacy Lanes in Coshocton. The top two teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 28, at HP Lanes in Columbus.

In girls sectional action, Indian Valley sophomore Lilly Tristano and Tuscarawas Central Catholic senior Isabella Murphy were the only area girls to advance to district play.

Tristano rolled a 457 series to finish 13th out of 127 bowlers and earned the fourth of six individual district berths. Murphy posted a 434 series to secure the sixth and final individual berth for a bowler not on a qualifying team.

At the girls sectional at Boulevard Lanes in Dover, Claymont was the top area team, placing 12th out of 23 teams. Newcomerstown finished 15th, Sandy Valley was 16th, Indian Valley placed 20th and Tuscarawas Central Catholic finished 21st.

Senior Cadi Aul led Claymont with a 398 series, and senior Lorena Warren rolled a 364.

Newcomerstown was led by sophomore Hailee Hanenkrat’s 396 series and sophomore Makala Wright-Stout’s 393.

Sandy Valley had five bowlers within 20 pins, led by juniors Alana Maddox and Helen Piatt, who each rolled a 353. Indian Valley was led by Tristano and sophomore Rebecca Barrick’s 384. Tuscarawas Central Catholic’s top performer behind Murphy was junior Pyper Leggett, who rolled a 309.

Division I postseason bowling begins Feb. 25 for Dover and New Philadelphia’s boys and girls at Shawnee Lanes in Chillicothe. From each district, one team and the top individual not on that team advance to the state tournament.