The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys bowling team is sending three of its members to the State Bowling Tournament. Jack Mastbergen, Eli Mastbergen and Caleb Aaron posted the 12th, 13th and 14th highest three-game series totals among all the Class 1A bowlers competing in the State Qualifying Meets. A total of 32 individuals qualified statewide in 1A.
A pair of State Qualifying Meets were held at Locomotion Lanes in Sanborn with the girls competing on February 12th and the boys on February 13th. Jack Mastbergen, who is returning to State for a second year as an individual, rolled games of 214, 202 and 236 for a 652 series. Eli Mastbergen’s games were 237, 212 and 187 to total 636. Aaron, who is a student at Western Christian, turned in a 622 series with games of 174, 230 and 218.
The State Bowling Tournament is held at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo. The Class 1A boys individuals bowl on Wednesday, February 21.
The HMS boys team qualified for State last season but were third in this year’s Qualifying Meet. The Hawk girls were second. Only the first place team advances.
HMS coach Julia Meyer offered the following recap of the Qualifying Meets.
“Monday the 12th, the girls kicked off the state qualifying tournament with the Star Spangled Banner sung by two of our bowlers, Jordan Lux and Lillian Van Loon. They did a great job! We started the team event by bowling 15 Baker Games. The girls began with good scoring Baker Games and they hung in the competition. The girls had some of their best Baker Games of the season that day, but just did not get the spares or strikes to fall their way. I am very proud of the girls and their efforts, as they did not give up and kept on trying till the final game.
“The individual games competition was in the afternoon and Heather Elgersma led the way with a 170 high game and 431 series, with Jordan Lux following close with 160 high game and 422 series. Next was Keyanna Brower with her high game of 147 and 399 high series. Lexi Croatt had a high game of 142 and 367 series, Annika Overmire’s high game was 138 with 361 series, Lillian Van Loon with 130 high game and 341 series.

“Heather Elgersma was in top eight scoring with eighth place. I am so very proud of her and all the girls’ efforts Monday and all season. They all showed improvement at the end of the season. That was great to see!
“The Boys state qualification day was Tuesday the 13th and the team event was also 15 Baker Games to determine the Team champion. The boys started out with some real good scores and were in close competition with the eventual team winner. The boys also had some of their best Baker Games scores of the season and their scores were still in the hunt halfway through the event, yet the next games didn’t quite prove enough to keep pace to get the top scores we needed to win. We are so proud of their efforts and determination. They ‘Never gave up!’ and that is what I like to see, as in any sport, you don’t know when the other teams can fail. The boys came in third by117 pins to Charles City’s team who took first over the second place Forest City team.

“For the individual games, It was like a fire was started in the HMS boys, after the team event, and they started their individual games in a flurry with Eli Mastbergen leading the scores with a 237 and Jack Mastbergen a 214. The second game, three boys had 200 games: Caleb Aaron a 230, Eli Mastbergen a 212 and Jack Mastbergen a 202. These three boys had a good bowling rhythm going and they kept at the strikes and spares the final game with Jack throwing a 236 game and a final series of 652, Eli finished his final game with a 187 and a series total of 636, Caleb Aaron’s third game was a 218 with a series total of 622. They proved to be the top three boys of the tournament and the three qualified to go to state in the individual games! The top four get to go on to state from that tournament. The fourth player was a Charles City player, Noah White.
“Congratulations to these top three boys!  It was exciting to see their determination and skill as they finished the final games and came through to be top three winners! We’re all rooting for your success at state! Bring home 1st, 2nd and 3rd!    
“Thank you to family, fans and bowlers for being at the games this season. We appreciate all the cheering and support. Also a thank you to Locomotion Lanes, Bert Van Dam, Josh and Jenn for their tremendous support of the high school bowling and all they do.”
The girls individual State qualifiers at the Sanborn site were all from Charles City. Kinleigh Bahe rolled a 521 series, Darian Hesse a 509, Payton Hadley a 506 and Claire Girkin a 505.
Boys Team Scores: Charles City 2919, Forest City 2864, HMS 2802, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 2342, North Iowa 749, Pocahontas Area 578.
15 HMS Baker games: 181, 187, 168, 223, 161, 171, 210, 176, 172, 213, 169, 162, 226, 200, 183.
HMS Boys Individual Results: Jack Mastbergen 214-202-236 – 652, Eli Mastbergen 237-212-187 – 636, Caleb Aaron 174-230-218 – 622, Graham Lux 175-162-161 – 498, Riley Russell 170-156-164 – 490, Dawson Niichel 152-163-140 – 455.
Girls Team Scores: Charles City 2361, HMS 1938, Forest City 1598, North Iowa 1447, Pocahontas Area 689.
15 HMS Baker games: 142, 133, 150, 143, 95, 118, 142, 142, 139, 135, 116, 102, 118, 142, 121.
HMS Girls Individual Results: Heather Elgersma 136-170-125 – 431, Jordan Lux 146-116-160 – 422, Keyanna Brower 147-116-136 – 399, Lexi Croatt 96-142-129 – 367, Annika Overmire 138-96-127 – 361, Lillian Van Loon 130-101-110 – 341.