Eli Mastbergen is 16th and Caleb Aaron 23rd

Three members of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys bowling team competed in Class 1A February 21 at the State Bowling Tournament held at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo. Jack Mastbergen advanced to bracket play and finished fifth. Eli Mastbergen placed 16th and Caleb Aaron 23rd. The morning round saw Jack Mastbergen bowl a 300 game, the only one rolled among the 1A individuals.
HMS bowling coach Julia Meyer reported on the days events:
“Wow, what a great showing in the 1A Individual Games at the Iowa High School Bowling Championships.
“We are so proud of all three of the boys that participated on Wednesday morning. Each of them bowled their best that day. Eli Mastbergen started the first game with a 239, while Jack bowled a 179 and Caleb a 169. The next game things turned around and Caleb had more strikes and ended that game with a huge 264. Jack threw a 248 while Eli’s second game was 191.
“As they entered the final game of the three game series, each of them still had a good chance to get into the top eight. However, the luck of it was not totally in favor of all of them. Eli’s third game was still a good game with a 214 and Caleb’s third game was a 165. It was Jack that started where he left off from the second game – with strikes. He had found his rhythm and he kept the strikes coming and the confidence grew with each frame. Jack has always had the ability and skill to throw a perfect game and he knew it also. This time he was not denied, as all his family and fans and coaches and opponents watched and congratulated and cheered his 12th strike of the game, ending with a 300/Perfect Game! Each shot was perfectly thrown and never wavered. Well done, Jack! Congratulations on that thrilling game!

“After that excitement, we found out the final standings for the top eight and Jack was third! He was placed in a bracket against the #6 player, which turned out to be the player from Charles City that qualified in Sanborn the same day as Jack, Eli and Caleb. That next game for Jack did not go his way (162 score) and the Charles City school player, Noah White (213 game), continued on to the second and  third rounds (losing the first place match to Vann Lessig of Vinton-Shellsburg). Jack finished fifth in the State out of the 32 that started the day. Eli finished 16th and Caleb 23rd. Congratulations boys on your accomplishments!”
It is so refreshing and amazing to see the talent in the state of Iowa in Bowling with these young superstars. They make us proud. Thank you for the support and sacrifices of all the fans and family to be there also!”