Record-settin’ rollers

Comet girl bowlers break 3,000 mark for first time; CC boys knock down season best

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — How well did the Charles City boys bowling team do against Forest City on Friday night?

“They could have beaten most of the top men’s teams around here,” Comet assistant coach Tyler Mitchell said.

How ‘bout the Comet girls?

“They’ve could have beaten a lot of those adult teams, too,” Mitchell said.

It was that type of night when the Comets hosted the Indians at Comet Bowl. Charles City’s boys team compiled a season-best 3,205 score while defeating Forest City by 684 pins.

The Comet girls won even more convincing (849 pins) while breaking the 3,000 barrier for the first time in program history (3,037).

The Comet boys were led by southpaw junior Kaleb Ross, who we must clarify doesn’t really own Panther Lanes in Tripoli, nor as far as we know own Comet Bowl. (But then again … )

For the second straight week, Ross bowled a two-game 500 series (246, 254) after setting a team record on the road against the Tripoli Panthers with a 504.

Comet anchorman Drew Mitchell capped his 444 series with a 248; leadoff man Hunter Brockney rolled a 414 with a 237 second game; and Jacob Greenzweig bowled a 204 to start his 397 series.

In the Baker rotation round, the Comets’ five-game average was 213.33 (1,068) with a low-game of 203.

The Comet girls got a big lift from anchorperson Baili Girkin — another lefty — who finished her team-high 455 series with a 256 game that included a string of seven strikes in a row.

“And in the Baker rotation, Baili had 9 out of 10 strikes,” Charles City head coach Doug Bohlen said.

Macy Ross had a 443 series (236, 207), and Madison Ross bowled a 400 (224, 176) for the Comet girls, who — like the CC boys — improved to 6-1 for the season.

In the Baker rotation, Charles City averaged just under 207 while compiling a five-game total of 1,034. And that could have been even higher as Charles City missed three one-pin spares while bowling a 173 in the fourth game.

* The following day during a Baker rotation team tournament at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo, high scores didn’t come as easily for the Comets — or for any of the participating teams for that matter.

After the first 10 Baker qualifying games, the Comet girls averaged 155 which was good enough for the top seed and first-round bye in the subsequent single-elimination tournament.

The Comet boys didn’t average much better (160), though earned the No. 2 seed in their bracket.

“That whole tournament, there were five 200 games recorded,” Bohlen said, “and that’s out of more than 250 games.”

The tournament started two hours late due to a lanes conditioning snafu. When things finally got rolling, bowlers were addled by the excess oil.

“Our girls only threw 31 strikes all day,” Bohlen said, “but they picked up their spares enough to get to the semifinals.”

Both Comet teams reached the semis before the girls were stopped by Sumner-Fredericksburg and the CC boys reached their figurative and literal “Waterloo” when losing to Columbus Waterloo.

Boys Bowling

At Comet Bowl

CHARLES CITY 3,208, FOREST CITY 2,524

CHARLES CITY — Hunter Brockney 177, 237-441; Kaleb Ross 246, 254-500; Noah Reams 190, 195-385; Jacob Greenzweig 204, 193-397; Cade Schmidt 161,194-355; Drew Mitchell 196, 248-444 (2,140). BAKER ROTATION: 218, 215, 203, 216, 216 (1,068).

FOREST CITY — Billy McCloskey 189, 151-340; Tanner Frascht 162, 151-313; Conner Thompson 148, 184-332; Dakota Droessler 146, 233-379; Chandler Thompson 180, 172-352; Jared Thompson 179, 169-348 (1,751). BAKER ROTATION: 162, 137, 177, 147, 150 (773).

Girls Bowling

At Comet Bowl

CHARLES CITY 3.037, FOREST CITY 2,188

CHARLES CITY — Madison Ross 224, 176-400; Falyn Knecht 166, 160-326; Macy Ross 236, 207-444; Mija Cotton 188, 184-372; Katie Sickman 198, 135-333; Baili Girkin 199, 256-455 (2,023). BAKER ROTATION: 199, 201, 247, 173, 214 (1,034).

FOREST CITY — Phoebe Kozitza 124, 126-250; Jasmine Trunkhill 130, 139-269; Brianna Knapp 99, 157-256; Fran Wasicel 148, 137-285; Mandy Anzivino 147, 198-345; Shayne Hoeft 148, 184-332 (1,487). BAKER ROTATION: 126, 156, 148, 139, 132 (701).