The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys bowling team, including one individual qualifier, traveled to Waterloo last week to participate in State bowling tournaments. The team tournament was held at Cadillac XBC on February 20 and the individual tournament at Maple Lanes on February 21.
In the team competition, 15 Baker games were bowled to determine the seeding for bracket play. The Hawks matched up against Louisa-Muscatine for a best-of-five series of Baker games. The Falcons took the first 211-203 but HMS came back to capture the next two 182-150 and 235-226. Louisa-Muscatine tied the series with a 265-204 victory and then closed out the Hawks with a 215-169 win. Maquoketa was eventually crowned the champion, with Louisa-Muscatine finishing fourth.
Commented HMS bowling coach Julia Meyer, “We had quite an experience at the State Bowling tournament as we had a very good opportunity to take out the top-seeded team, Louisa-Muscatine, after being put in the brackets, using the first 15 Baker games scores. We were just a few pins away from moving to the top four after the best-of-five Baker games, and continuing on for the championship, but it was not to be. The boys bowled and tried their best to win. They were really clicking and had momentum after our first win, and also then the second win. We were the only team that took their opponent to the fifth game of the best-of-five series. Even though we did not advance to the semifinals, we surprised a lot of people – with our bowling, as a new school in the sport, then qualifying to the state tournament and almost taking out the top-seed team. This was a big learning experience and we will use that as seed for next year’s season.”
Members of the HMS team who were awarded medals for eighth place included Caleb Aaron, Marcus Aaron, Damian Dodge, Jack Mastbergen, Dawson Niichel, Riley Russell and Skyler Shaffer.
Mastbergen finished tied for 11th among the 32 individual qualifiers in Class 1A. The top eight advanced to bracket play. Mastbergen bowled a 633 series in pre-bracket play with games of 142, 213 and 278. He was 18 pins short of eighth place. Adam Denny of Council Bluffs St. Albert rolled the high pre-bracket series of 769 and then went on to the title with three wins in bracket play.
Said Meyer, “Jack Mastbergen bowled on Tuesday in the Individual Games event against 32 other bowlers that qualified for 1A. Jack came through with a 633 series with an outstanding 278 for his last game. He was very close to a perfect game! He fell short by only 18 pins in the effort to get to the top eight players to be able to continue to bowl for first. He finished 11th in the state out of 32 qualifiers. His scores were 142, 213 and 278.
“I am so proud of the boys and each of their efforts!” continued Meyer. “They now have the taste of what they want to do again, because they know they were right there in the fight with the best teams and players in the state. Congratulations on a great year, boys! Thank you for giving your all and doing your best! Thank you to all the parents and families and fans. You’re the best!”