Struthers’ Stanton wins state bowling tournament

Struthers sophomore wins state bowling tourney

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Struthers High School sophomore Madison Stanton spent the week preparing for the Division II girls state bowling tournament hoping her team could find a way to qualify for the final.

The Wildcats competed against 15 other squads Friday. The top eight advanced in team competition and Struthers finished ninth.

But Stanton, 16, earned an amazing consolation prize at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. Her three-game set of 634 won the tournament.

She finished 15 pins ahead of Lowellville’s Haylie Rotz to become state champion. Girard’s Heidi Trautman finished fourth with 599 (192, 229 and 172).

Stanton’s reaction when the Top 15 scores were announced?

“Very shocked, I started to shake,” Stanton said. “I was very nervous, overwhelmed with emotion.”

Bob Eisenbraun, the Struthers bowling coach, said the competitors aren’t aware of how well they are doing compared to others because running scores aren’t displayed.

“They post the scores at the end of the game,” Eisenbraun said of how no one was certain just how well Stanton and Rotz were doing. “But I knew I was witnessing something special.”

Stanton, whose average is 160, rolled a 192 and 223 to open the competition. Her final game of 219 included three strikes in the 10th frame.

“I usually finish like that,” Stanton said, laughing.

Stanton said she knew she had done well and was hoping to hear her name in the top 10.

“The crowd was very energetic for other girls, it sounded like they were bowling better than I was,” Stanton said.

Stanton’s outlooked brightened. First, she compared notes with Rotz. Then she heard that teammate Elizabeth Dragus was 15th with 542. The senior received honorable mention all-Ohio.

“I thought maybe five or six,” Stanton said.

Instead, Rotz’s name wasn’t called until No. 2.

Her reaction?

“I felt pretty good, very excited, but also very tired and hungry,” Stanton said. “It was a very long day.”

Rotz’s scores were 214, 184 and 221.

The Wildcats rolled 2,900 as a team, 60 behind eighth-place Minerva. Hubbard was 12th with 2,854.

St. Mary’s Memorial won with 3,236. Bryan was second with 3,153.

The Wildcats’ other bowlers and scores were: Hannah Hoffman, 502 (164-166-172); Hailey DeGenaro, 422 (157-123-142); and Delaney Baber, 414 (124-156-134).

Jennifer Reebel led Hubbard with 525 (138-207-180). Brooke Papini rolled 513 (191-156-166). The Eagles’ other bowlers were: Amber Davis, 468 (153-133-182); Bethany Jones, 462 (169-137-156); and Maggie Lewis, 410 (169-112-129).