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Mooney, Hubbard, Liberty, Lowellville advance to bowling district
By Greg Gulas
NILES
Last season, the Cardinal Mooney High School girls bowling team advanced to the state tournament.
The Cardinals want to return and can point to a strong showing in Friday’s sectional Baker games in fulfilling the first leg of that journey.
The Cardinals shot 3,230 to capture the Division II Northeast District girls sectional at McKinley Lanes and will be joined by Hubbard (3,103), Liberty (3,102) and Lowellville (2,893).
They will compete on Feb. 28 at district competition at the Lorain Rebman Recreation Center.
Champion’ Desiree Morrison had the top set (542) while Lowellville’s Ally Coppola’s 201 roll turned out to be the only 200 game.
“In my two seasons as head coach, this was perhaps our best set of Baker games,” Mooney head coach David Bernard said. “I hate playing catch-up and it took us a little time to get adjusted to the lane conditions.
“But once we settled down everything just seemed to come together,” Bernard said. “We entered Baker in third-place, 111 pins in back of team leader, Liberty. We threw a 202 right out of the gate and that just seemed to set the tempo for us.”
Mooney co-captain Clara Angeloff, who rolled a 445 set, said remaining focused during Baker games was important.
“Keeping up our energy was the key,” Angeloff said.
Hubbard coach Ken Miller, whose team edged Liberty by a point for runner-up honors, said that his young lineup is coming together at the right time.
“We have two freshmen, a sophomore, junior and senior,” Miller said. “Our scores today were probably our worst this year so we’re happy to finish second.”
Hubbard’s Michalia Dudley rolled a 431 set and finished 21st.
“We really struggled as a team, but rallied during Baker,” Dudley said.
Liberty led the Hubbard by 19 pins and Mooney by 36 to hold down the top spot after the first three games.
“I can sum up our performance in one word and that is consistency,” Leopards head coach Mike Mikulich said.
Liberty captain Chyanne Scott rolled a 448 set for the third-place finishers.
“Picking up our spares throughout the tournament was a big boost for the entire team,” Scott said.
Lowellville’s first-year coach Josh Long is elated that his team will be advancing.
“I feel very blessed that our team is moving on after watching all of the talent on display here today,” Long said.
Lowellville’s Kathryn Grope, who advanced to districts individually last season, said to go as a team this season is something special.
“Last year, I was disappointed that we didn’t go as a team, but all of our hard work this year has paid off,” Grope said.
Coppola’s second game was the night’s high water mark individually while Morrison was a mark of consistency, rolling 175, 177 and 190 for her 542 set.
“The lanes were a little oily but normal for me,” Coppola said. “I was just hitting the pocket and was pleased with my effort, especially the last two games.”
In addition to Morrison, Susan Decker of Southington (535), Mackenzie Olesky of Girard (507) and Struthers’ Jamie King (491) were the other individual qualifiers.