Alder finishes second in Division II

For the first time, the Jonathan Alder boys bowling team ended its season holding a trophy.

On Friday in the Division II state tournament at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, the Pioneers earned a state runner-up finish when they lost to Mechanicsburg 3-0 in the championship match.

“We’d never won a match (at state) before today so it was huge,” coach Rusty Walter said.

Jonathan Alder had the third-best score during the qualifying round and beat sixth-seeded Uhrichsville Claymont and seventh-seeded Girard by 3-2 scores to reach the championship match.

During the qualifying round for the Pioneers, sophomore Luke Honigford rolled a 597 to finish 13th and earn honorable mention all-state honors. Senior Zach Otto was 33rd (552), sophomore Jacob Schrock placed 34th (551) and junior Andrew Clark was 43rd (533).

“I was just a sub last year but I definitely worked a lot on my timing and my release,” Honigford said.

Licking Valley shot 3,084 to tie for 12th and Heath shot 2,809 to finish last in the 16-team qualifying round.

Earning second-team all-state honors was Licking Valley senior Jarrett Strait, who bowled a 607 to place 10th as Cortland Lakeview’s Seth Dunn was medalist with a 703.

“I had to keep my composure,” Strait said. “I’m happy with it.”

Worthington Christian senior Seth Parsell tied for 27th with a 562, Centerburg senior Colton Hogg tied for 65th (482) and Pleasant junior Bobby Davis was 76th (455).

Parsell opened with a 154 but followed with games of 203 and 205. A Huntington University recruit, Parsell also competed at state as a sophomore when Worthington Christian appeared as a team.

“The lanes were drying out and I started hitting my mark more (in the second game), so I had more hook and it got in the pocket,” Parsell said. “It’s a little below my average but I’ll take it.”