Lima Senior and Shawnee are in the top two slots in the boys bowling WOHSBC at 3-0, while Lima Central Catholic is one-half game back at 2-0.
On the girls side, it’s Celina and Lima Senior on top of the standings.
In reality, each of these teams are simply waiting for their opportunity to roll against Wapakoneta and learn what many teams have learned over the last few years, that the 3-0 Redskins are very, very good.
There have been times watching from the stands that I have watched Wapak and Coldwater bowl that it just feels like they have a “go switch” they can throw on whenever they wish.
Let me say that when you are in the pit coaching against the Redskins, the feeling becomes very much a reality.
There was a point during the sixth frame when this coach looked at the scoreboard and saw that Temple Christian was only 60 pins down. However, by the end of the game, the tally for the first game was 908-633.
Lexi Bayliff completed what in this bowling world has become a rarity, a 177 all-spare game for the Pioneers and Rachel Martin rolled a 167, but the defending state champion Redskins revealed to all in attendance just why they will threaten for that honor again this season.
The Pioneers outspared the Redskins in in game one, but Wapak rolled a Thanksgiving cornucopia of strikes.
Britni Hosterman led the way with 216 and 194 for a 410, but she got a lot of help from Katie Manger (188-201), Josee Kaeck (181-197) and Kelsey Pothast (175-189).
Morgan Twining (204-227 – 431) paced Lima Senior to a big win over Van Wert 2231-1891. Her effort resulted in her being medalist for the weekend for the girls in both game and series.
Let’s hear it from Twining nation.
Twining is just the most recent of the wonderful and talented Twining family to excel on the lanes and the Lima Senior program can hope that more of them get there soon.
In the meantime, Olivia Stein (185-171) gave Morgan a boost.
We did not have the Shawnee girls statistics, but Shawnee dropped a battle with Western Buckeye League and WOHSBC foe Celina (2475-2295). Mackenzi Regandanz (217) and Karlee Huber (203) led the way for Celina.
Coldwater simply overwhelmed Ft Recovery, 2375–1423 to retain its one-half game lead over Russia in the South Division of the conference.
How tough are the Wapak boys?
Let’s put it this way, there are two team games rolled before the five game baker block that result in 10 opportunities for the bowlers to top the 200 plateau.
The end result for Wapak was eight-200 games.
Blake Knueve stroked games of 242 and 268 for a 510 two-game block, but it was not all about Blake.
Trevor Copeland had games of 231 and 224, while Brandon Kennard went 222 and 219.
Tyler Miller chipped in a 234 and Dusty Haggard rolled a 238.
The team scores were 1167 and 1002, before they rolled baker games of 224, 197, 201, 201 and 185 for a 3177.
Bailey Brown rolled a 246 game for a strong Celina team that will be heard from in conference action. Celina’s 2706 just was not enough for Wapak on the day.
They are just that good and once again a state-championship contender.
I teased Shawnee in the Sunday column, and they are going to be very good. Shawnee rolled a 2910 on Saturday, a score which would have beaten any team not named Wapakoneta.
On Saturday, it was enough to take down Van Wert, which rolled a 2721. Colton Deschner rolled a 236 to lead the Cougars.
Shawnee shot a team balanced 1072 in game one, paced by Alex Weiser (234) and Nathan Stratton (227). Drew Ambroza (217-199) and Austin Fought (218-194) were solid in support.
Lima Senior got a 211 game from Keonte Bankston and 207 from Darius Collins, as the Spartans defeated Parkway 2430-2113.
The very talented Cecilia Riepenhoff has joined the Lima Central Catholic boys squad for this season, and she should be a welcome addition to a team that lost a lot of quality and depth from last season.
Riepenhoff rolled a 184 and 191 on Saturday as the T-Birds, behind the efforts of Mitchell Hoffman (246 and 191) and Jared Nolte with a 216 defeated St Marys 2829-2733.
Temple Christian fell from the unbeaten ranks, as they were tripped by Ottawa Glandorf 2668-2227.
Trevor Harshbarger with a 224-181 and Bret Kelly 189-200 led the way for the Titans.
St. Henry stayed undefeated in the South Division at 2-0.
Coldwater and Versailles each had the misfortune of rolling against Wapak in inter-divisional play are one-half game behind with records of 2-1.
The league is off this weekend, well sort of.
The core of the conference will be at the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Kickoff Classic in Columbus.
Many other members of the conference will be at 20th Century Lanes for the Spartan Baker Invitational.
Action on Saturday at 20th promises to be competitive and begins at 9 a.m.
See you there.
