The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Westlake girls head to state tournament
What started just two years ago has rapidly, and surprisingly, bloomed into a trip to the state championships for the Westlake girls bowling team.
In just the second year for the program, the squad earned its first trip to the OHSAA Division I State Bowling Championship after placing sixth at the Northeast Ohio District Championship. The state tournament is March 10 at
Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.
The state berth was so unexpected that coach Rob Button even had to change flight reservations for an upcoming trip. It’s a costly miscalculation because of airline change fees, but he’s more than happy to take a trip to Columbus this weekend instead.
Button and the eight bowlers traveling to Columbus are approaching the competition without any lofty expectations.
“We’re going for the experience and viewing it as a fun thing the girls get to do,” Button said.
“I think we’re all still in a state of disbelief. The last week has been consumed by all the logistics of traveling and where we’re staying. We’re not expecting miracles — we’re just looking to have a good time with it, and to represent the Southwestern Conference and the Cleveland Bowling League as best as we can.”
Button said he plans to get all eight bowlers into the lineup at some point, especially a trio of graduating players — Bridgette Watkins, Holly Tomkalski and Alexis Sauer.
“For the three seniors, it’s their last opportunity and it’d be great to have them experience that,” he said.
Westlake will be one of 16 teams competing at the D-I state finals. Teams with the top eight scores through three regular games and three Baker games move on to a tournament-style bracket.
Junior Charlotte Button has been consistent from the anchor spot in the lineup for Westlake and was second team All-SWC, while junior Payton Hedges has raised her average by 30 pins since last year.
Some of the bowlers began competing as members of the boys team in 2015. Bowling isn’t a varsity sport at Westlake — the program is considered a club sport — but competes against varsity programs in the SWC and the area. The girls program is so young that school records are frequently broken.
Hedges owns the high game score (217) this year, and junior Emily Fankhauser set the high series (556) last year, while Charlotte Button has the high team average (150). Other bowlers on the state roster include junior Eve Anitas and freshman Taylor Hedges.
“The one thing about my team is that we don’t have five standouts,” Button said. “We have a pretty deep roster from 1 to 8, where there is only a 25-pin difference in the average. At districts, our eighth-best bowler (Sauer) had her best games of the season and stepped up for us.”
Westlake’s goal this year was to qualify for the district tournament and use that experience for a state run next year. After a solid first game, the Demons were in third place, but dropped to fourth and eventually sixth after the second and third games. Clinging to that final state berth spot, the team tried to keep its focus on the lanes.
“We knew we were on the bubble. During the six Baker games, we tried not to watch the scoreboard,” Button said. “We had some clutch performances and ended up with our highest Baker game series of the year (899).”
The Demons topped Midview,
which won the SWC title weeks earlier, by 41 pins and finished ahead of SWC opponent North Olmsted after placing third behind both teams at the sectional tournament a week earlier — when the team made a late rally to grab that third and final spot to advance.
Westlake’s district performance produced the highest series score of the year (3,206). The series is made up of three regular bowling games from five bowlers on each team, and six Baker games, in which five bowlers each bowl two frames.
Button said the format “tests a team’s ability to string together strikes and spares to maximize scoring. Teams with a deep roster will fare better than teams with just a few superstars.”
Button also credits parents and the school for supporting the program.
“Our parents are at all the matches — they’re taking care of the players’ food and beverage needs and allowing me just to coach,” he said. “The school and our athletic boosters have been contributing and are helping pay for the trip to state, so they are supportive of the team.”
Button and boys coach Jim Eppele, both volunteer coaches in their second seasons, are optimistic that the school will make bowling a varsity sport as soon as next year.
“I couldn’t have been successful without him,” Button said. “It’s clear we have pretty competitive teams and we’re excited about seeing the success the teams have had.”