Boardman peaking at right time

March 12, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

BOARDMAN

The Boardman High girls bowling team had what could best be described as an average regular season according to Spartan standards, going just 7-7 overall while finishing second in the All-American Conference’s Red Tier.

Boardman’s run through the sectional and district tournaments, however, has been anything but ordinary.

The Spartans, 2010 state champions, have qualified six times for state play yet find themselves heading back to Columbus for just the first time since 2011.

First-year head coach Justine Cullen noted that her team is peaking at the right time and remain poised to make a run at a second title in the Division I state tournament Friday.

“I’m very superstitious when it comes to sports, so when I saw that we would be playing on Friday the 13th my initial thought was,‘Right, of course we are,’ ” she said. “We had the typical highs and lows you could have as a team during the season, but also had some great moments as well. I was pleasantly surprised by this group all season long, especially during Baker games. The fact we are hitting our stride at the right time is just as important.”

Boardman’s Alexis Grim rolled a 595 in sectional play for top honors overall, which helped vault the team into the district tournament where it finished third overall — 21 pins behind champion Perry and a mere 11 pins in front of fourth-place Green.

With just 50 pins separating the top five qualifiers, Cullen said it’s easy to understand how everything went right down to the wire.

“We were 150 pins behind after individual games and had the best Baker games of the tournament, so it’s safe to say we’re going to state because of our Baker performance. For us, that was the difference-maker,” Cullen added.

Boardman’s Lexi Chismar had the team’s highest game of the district, posting a 209 in her opening game which was 12th best in the tourney.

Despite no team member ranking in the top-20 for high series, the Spartans still found a way to punch their ticket to state.

“We only have five girls so they know they are going to bowl when they get to the alley. They understand they are needed and all season long they’ve been there for one another,” Culled said. “They feed off each other while their best seems to come out during Baker’s.”

The Spartans’ state roster includes team average leader Grim (185), Gloria Hynes (169), Myranda Bukovinsky (157), Breanna Kereluik (149) and Chismar (142).

Bukovinsky (her 495 series was tops at district) is the team’s lone four-year letterwinner, while Grim (three letters) and Kereluik (two letters) are the other two team members who have earned multiple letters.

Chismar and Hynes will earn their initial letters this year.

“Each girl has contributed to our overall success. Myranda has done well on sport shots with the oil pattern while Gloria, although just a freshman, has the unique ability of always finding a way to pick up her spares,’ Cullen said. “Lexi has ice in her veins and always stays the course. Breanna throws the fastest and strongest ball of everyone while Alexis is the most text-book bowler on the team. She bowls all year round, takes the game very seriously and throws the most consistent ball.”

Grim noted that the team got better over the course of the season.

“We have to go into the tournament thinking positive, remembering that we made it and are one of the top 16 girls teams in the state. That’s great for a group of girls who never thought they’d make it this far,” she said.

Bukovinsky said the team has chemistry, but it took a while to develop.

“We came together nicely at district and sectionals, but to have a good showing at state our scores and teamwork will have to be exceptionally good,” she said.

Friday’s action begins at 10:30 a.m. at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.