Valley girls set for D-II state bowling tournament

March 5, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

While the Cardinal Mooney High School girls bowling team readies for a second consecutive state appearance, the Hubbard Eagles will return after a one-year absence and familiar territory they’ve called home each March during five of the past six seasons.

For Struthers High sophomore Jaime King, the only area Division II individual qualifier, her hope is to create a lasting memory during what she hopes will be the first of several state appearances.

The Division II bowling tournament gets underway Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

“Last year we finished 15th overall so our immediate goal is improve upon that finish. In order to do that, we must start strong, finish strong, have clean frames and kick our scoring up a notch from sectionals and district,” second-year Cardinals coach Dave Bernard said. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to get back to state and we’ve now realized that goal. Average-wise, we improved greatly from last season but this year will undoubtedly be a tight, difficult final.”

The Cardinals (3,230) won the sectional by 127 pins over Hubbard (3,103) and finished second to Garfield (3,431-3,376) at last weekend’s district competition in Lorain, 55 pins off the pace.

The Eagles (3,375) placed third, albeit just a pin behind the Cardinals.

At district, a 223 roll by Cardinal Mooney’s Clara Angeloff was tops while the Eagles’ Sabrina Romano, who rolled a 217 game, was second.

Angeloff’s 573 series was good enough for third-place at district, which was followed by Romano’s 571 and King’s 560 set.

Cardinal Mooney’s state roster includes team average leader Christian Dama (175) with Angeloff (157), Adrianna Popovich (140), Courtney Unger (140), Brittaney Mingo (136) and Gianna Glover (110) completing the participation list.

Dama, a senior whose 503 set at district included a 184 roll, said it’s special to return to the state tournament, especially for fellow seniors, Angeloff and Unger.

“We’ve worked hard over the last couple seasons and our efforts are paying off. It’s special when you make back-to-back state appearances,” Dama said. “The key is staying motivated, relaxing, having fun and bowling how we are capable of because the rest will take care of itself.”

The Eagles’ Ken Miller is also in his second season and is making his first trip to state as head coach.

With four state runner-up trophies already secured in Hubbard High School’s athletics display case, this year’s All-American Conference White Tier champion would love nothing better than to add the state’s top prize to its growing collection.

“We improved each and every week over the course of the season and we’re peaking at the right time,” Miller said. “Consistency with our new bowlers was big while the key this weekend will be picking up our spares.”

The Eagles’ Sabrina Romano, a freshman whose sister Miranda qualified individually for state a season ago, is tops on the team with a 197 average. Michaila Dudley (189), Emily Davis (154), Kinsey DiPietro (148), Baker games specialist Brittany Realty (145) and Alexis Cobbin (143) round out the group.

The Eagles finished 11-1 overall and waltzed through the league with a 9-0 mark.

“Our goal has always been to get to state and not many gave is a chance to get there as a team, so this is a very special time for all of us,” Dudley said. “If we expect to win then we need to stay together, remain strong and continue to help each other out. There have been a lot of pep talks at practices, during matches and especially in tournament play this year.”

King finished second to Crestwood’s Emma Dockery (581) and becomes just the second Wildcats’ girl to qualify individually for state.

“I need to be better than I was at district and my goal is to roll three 200-plus games,” she said. “I was nervous during district, but I’m excited about the state. I feel I am representing all of Struthers and most especially our team. I want to prove to people that I am capable and while I know that I’m capable, I must now go out and show it.”

King’s coach, Bob Eisenbraun Sr., called his bowler a “diamond-in-the-rough” who will only get better.

“Jaime has been a very pleasant surprise this season. She has an outgoing personality and her teammates just gravitate to her,” Eisenbraun said. “Her strength is that she is an accurate roller who just needs to develop consistency. She rolled well at both sectional and district and I’m hoping that it continues now at state.”