District schedule
What: Division I boys and girls district bowling tournaments
Where: Eastern Lanes, 6943 Coles Road, Middletown
When: Today (girls) and Saturday (boys), 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. each day
Area girls qualifiers: Middletown, Lebanon, Fenwick's Kate Mushaben, Franklin's Meagan Bowling
Area boys qualifiers: Middletown, Franklin, Monroe's Cody Neace, Fenwick's Chris Eldridge, Springboro's Andy Henrich and Travis Rowe
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown High School bowling teams are hoping to turn their successful seasons into historic ones.
Both Middie teams — girls and boys — will compete in the district tournament today, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27, with an elusive trip to state on the line.
No Middletown team has advanced to the state tournament since bowling became an Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned sport in 2007.
The girls district is today, with the top six teams and top six individuals not on a qualifying team advancing to the state tournament at Shawnee Lanes in Chillicothe.
“I think we have a chance to get out of here if we bowl like we did the last two or three weeks,” MHS coach Nelson Hurte said of the Middie girls. “They’re bowling really well right now. They’re peaking at the right. This is the best they’ve bowled all season.”
That’s saying something. The Middies went 14-1 during the regular season and earned a co-championship in the Greater Miami Conference. They finished second at sectionals, just 14 pins behind Seton.
Rebekah Wilhelm and Samantha Watson led the way at sectionals with 635 and 615 series, respectively.
Lebanon also is in the 24-team field. Fenwick’s Kate Mushaben and Franklin’s Meagan Bowling will compete as individuals.
The boys tournament is Saturday, with the top five teams and five individuals not on a qualifying team advancing to state.
Middletown finished third at the sectional tournament behind Fairfield and Oak Hills. Justin Harris had a 610 series to lead the Middies, who were 12-2 in the regular season.
“It’s at our house so they really, really have a great chance,” Hurte said. “ ... As long as they keep their concentration and don’t watch the scoreboards, I like our chances.”
Franklin joins Middletown in the team competition. The Wildcats were runners-up in their sectional last week. They were led by sectional champion Kyle McDermott, who rolled a 715 series. James Bunnell (677) and Devin Hoffer (664) also had strong series for the Wildcats.
Monroe’s Cody Neace, Fenwick’s Chris Eldridge and Springboro’s Andy Henrich and Travis Rowe will compete as individuals.
The Dayton area has claimed all three state boys championships — Kenton Ridge (a district qualifier again this year), Stebbins in 2008 and Coldwater in 2007 — since the Ohio High School Athletic Association made bowling a sanctioned sport.
Pemberville Eastwood (2009), Centerville (2008) and Beavercreek (2007) have won girls state crowns.
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