Cool as the Rockies

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

OELWEIN — There’s an enticing sign at Viper Lanes that issues the challenge “If your team strikes out in the seventh frame, all receive a free bottle of Coors Light.”

In the second game of the individual round of Tuesday’s Class 1A-District 7 Girls Bowling State Qualifier, all six from the Charles City Comets lineup struck out in the seventh frame.

Needless to note, the house’s “beer frame” policy doesn’t apply to high school teams. But though the Comets didn’t get a free six-pack, they eventually got a free ticket to the Class 1A State Girls Bowling Championships by way of a first-place berth.

Even after a solid individual round with Comet freshman Claire Girkin leading the way with a varsity career-high 385 two-game series, Charles City was only ahead of nearest competitor Tripoli by 52 pins (1,802 to 1,750) going into the Baker Rotation round.

“I was a little worried,” Charles City head coach Doug Bohlen said. “Tripoli has two really solid bowlers [Lauren Funk and McKenna Schaufenbuel], and I knew that lead could disappear fast.”

Though Bohlen and the rest of the Comet coaching staff were visibly nervous going into the Bakers, the Comet girls were — to paraphrase the slogan of the beer they earned but were deprived of — “Cool as the Rockies”.

“We knew we could rely on one another … pick each other up whenever needed,” Charles City senior Sarah Mitchell said after the Comets bowled Baker games of 194, 191, 191 … and then after an off game of 128 … rebounded in the fifth game while closing it with a four-bagger and an 8-count for a 202.

Combined with the individual round, that gave the Comets a total pinfall of 2,708, well ahead of Tripoli’s 2,575.

Independence (2,377), North Fayette Valley (2,377), Denver (1,850) and Oelwein (1,261) rounded out the team scoring.

“I’m much less nervous going into the Baker round because I know I’ve got my teammates bowling with me,” said Comet senior Heather Viers, who rolled a 366 series in the individual round. “In the individual round, you’re bowling more with yourself and you don’t know what the conditions are yet.”

Charles City junior Sophia Nelson rolled a 362 series that included a 226 in the first game, sophomore Imigin McHenry had a 347 series and Mitchell rolled a 342.

Senior Brianna Ross had an off day as an individual with a marked-off 280 series, but threw some clutch strikes and spares in the Baker round.

North Fayette Valley senior Emily Tieskotter bowled a 408 series for the district individual title.

Charles City’s overall score was one of its highest of the season, but there is plenty of room for improvement according to Bohlen.

“In the second game of the individual round, we left 27 1-pin leaves and only picked up a little more than half of them,” he said. “When you throw what should have been a strike and then you miss the spare, it makes it hurt even worse.

“So you know what we’re going to be working on this week.”

The Class 1A Girls State Bowling Championships will take place at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo.