SMYRNA — While the Pope John Paul II girls bowling team’s quest for a Division II state bowling championship was a short one, Lady Knight junior Sarah Gould’s quest for a title lives on.
Pope John Paul II junior Sarah Gould.
The Lady Knights, who on Tuesday self-reported their use of two ineligible bowlers, were disqualified from the team portion of the three-day tournament before it even began.
Gould reached the finals of the Division II individual tournament Thursday.
“I think it put a lot of importance on (the individual tournament), especially because all of the girls came out here to support us,” said Gould. “I just think it was that I was that much more motivated to do even better today.”
JPII girls bowlers disqualified at state
Gould, who entered Thursday’s semifinals as the 23rd seed, rolled a four-game total of 607 (167, 138, 131, 171), qualifying as the No. 4 seed in Friday’s finals at Smyrna Bowling Center, which will be decided by ladder match format.
“My second two games weren’t very good — they were in the 130s — but that last game I just really turned it on and really came through,” Gould said. “I’m just so ecstatic right now; just so excited.”
St. Agnes freshman Grace Becker secured the No. 1 seed after rolling a 644, followed by St. Benedict’s Kerri King (637) and St. Agnes’ Caroline Conrad (627). St. Benedict’s Violet Durden locked up the No. 5 seed with a 600, and Friendship Christian’s Brice Dabbs (595) secured the final spot.
Friendship Christian senior Donny Turner
Division II boys: Defending champion Donny Turner of Friendship Christian claimed the top seed, posting a four-match pinfall of 751 — 12 better than second-place Jay Moorefield of McCallie.
“It’s just kind of stressful because this is my senior year and I’ve already won it,” Turner said. “Everybody has expectations for you and you’re always worried about meeting them. And you have expectations for yourself. I hold myself to a standard, and if I don’t get there I’m disappointed.”
Christian Brothers’ Bradley Pounds (696), St. Benedict’s Ben Murphy (686), Friendship Christian’s Luke Shoulders (666) and Ensworth’s Sam Alcott (662) also advanced to Friday’s championship round.
Division I boys: Columbia Central’s Jon Colbaugh and Luke Flatt secured the top two seeds, while Smyrna’s Josh Meeke and Lipscomb’s Chase Ford also advanced to Friday’s finals.
Colbaugh, a senior, posted a total of 1,589, edging Flatt, a freshman, who had 1,587. Hardin County’s Sayvon Pipes (1,580), Meeke (1,575), Ford (1,541) and McMinn County’s Logan Teague (1,538) rounded out the top six.
Division I girls: A pair of Siegel standouts, Danielle Jedlicki and Sydney Jahns, will be representing the Midstate in the finals.
Jedlicki, a freshman, posted a 1,487 — good enough for third place — while Jahns, a senior, landed in fourth with a 1,453.
Both face an uphill battle in the finals, however, as the Rutherford County duo will be looking knock off two-time defending champion Ashley Channell of Hardin County, who secured the No. 1 seed.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.