The Estherville Lincoln Central boys bowlers hosted Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn January 16 at All Star Lanes in Estherville. HMS won with 2912 total pins compared to 2740 for the Midgets. ELC does not have a girls bowling team.
“Our boys team adapted well to the wooden alleys this time, ultimately coming out on top,” noted HMS head coach Julia Meyer. “Despite having a mix of strong and average games, our talented boys remained focused and committed to winning today. The ELC team gave us quite a challenge throughout the match, showing off their talented bowlers. However, our boys demonstrated remarkable tenacity and didn’t let this one slip away, securing a well-deserved victory. Great effort all around!” 
Jack Mastbergen bowled a near perfect game of 290, rolling 11 strikes in a row. His two-game total was 474. Eli Mastbergen put together games of 233 and 225 for a 458 total. Dawson Niichel bowled a 199 and Graham Lux a 192. “It’s truly exhilarating to watch our bowlers performing at their best and putting in all the hard work,” shared Meyer. “Their dedication and skill are really shining through, making it an exciting experience for everyone involved. We know there will be more awesome performances and continued growth!”
The boys’ Baker games were 259, 140, 201, 123 and 248.
The girls and JV bowlers took advantage of the opportunity to bowl for the experience and practice. “They bowled three games each today, which provided a valuable learning experience,” said Meyer. “They worked hard to adjust to the lanes and focused on improving their spare shooting skills.”
High games for the girls included Lillian Van Loon with a 194, Addison Huffman with a 181, Jordan Lux with a 155 and Kaidence Shaffer with a 152. For the JV boys Braden Niichel had high games of 219 and 195. Noah Niichel bowled a 174 and Blake Essing a 170.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the fans and families who support our bowling teams,” said the HMS coach. “It truly means a lot to see you at the meets, and your encouragement makes a difference!”
HMS Boys Individual Results: Jack Mastbergen 184-290 – 474, Eli Mastbergen 233-225 – 458, Dawson Niichel 199-150 – 349, Graham Lux 192-146 – 338, Luke Dagel 161-161 – 322, Hunter Daggett 138-140 – 278.
HMS Girls Individual Results: Mason VerHelst 144-149-149 – 442, Lillian Van Loon 107-194-138 – 439, Jordan Lux 128-155-149 – 432, Kaidence Shaffer 143-133-152 – 428, Addison Huffman 110-109-181 – 400, Kaeley Benson 90-108-108 – 306.