It’s always been that way…Coldwater coach Rick Hartings makes it very clear…the goal is to finish the season as #1. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
At the midpoint of conference competition, a different name sits atop the MAC standings in girls bowling…a shakeup in 2024?
Coldwater, OH – When we wrote about Fort Recovery bowler Ella Schoen earlier in December, we hinted at the time that Schoen and Indians might be onto something before the end of the 2024 MAC bowling season came to an end.
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That is, movement at the top of the league standings. Coldwater, and Versailles, who for so long have shown consistency befitting a respected culture of bowling in those schools, now, or so it seems, have some company at the top. As of this past week…it’s Fort Recovery sitting at the #1 spot, followed by Versailles (2nd), Coldwater (3rd), Parkway (4th), Minster (5th), New Bremen (6th) and Marion Local (7th).
At the midpoint of the MAC bowling season…Ella Schoen and Fort Recovery sit atop the girls standings.
Impressively, through last week’s league results, Recovery was undefeated against MAC competition, having beaten both Coldwater and Versailles, and the Indians are doing it as a group. On any given day, they say – Ella Schoen leads them with a 165 average, but Deanna Brown (152), Kayla Heitkamp (151), Emily Lauber (161), and Brooklyn Wyerick (157) are all tightly bunched behind her. All of them are capable of bowling 190 or better, and Schoen, to date, has the high game of the season in the group with a 211.
Versailles is not far behind in second place, feeding off the consistency of Alayna Henry (184), Megan Mangen (182), and Danielle Francis (178). Impressively, the Tigers have as many as five girls who have topped 215, or better, as a high game in 2024.
Coldwater is younger than normal, having graduated Jasmine Schulze from last year’s roster. But Brittany Burden is showing typical Coldwater potential, and is the sister of Austin Burden, on the Cavaliers’ boys team. Burden bowled a high game of 277 last week in competition at McBo’s, in Versailles, against Marion Local.
If you want to know what all this means…consider that since bowling became an officially sanctioned OHSAA sport back in 2007, Coldwater has claimed five state titles and finished runner-up twice.
Versailles is the only other MAC team since 2007 to have made the finals bracket, having finished 8th in Division II back in 2013, 4th in 2016, and 5th in 2019.
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On the boys side, a familiar name tops those standings….Coldwater, again in 2024.
Coldwater is undefeated, overall, perfect in the MAC, of course, and appears to gaining steam. The Cavs have five with averages of 200, or better, led by Caleb Wendel, who we wrote about recently, who’s bowling at a 225 clip. His high game for the season is 268.
Second place belongs to New Bremen at this writing, followed by St. Henry, the only two teams besides Coldwater to have a winning record. They’re followed by Minster, Fort Recovery and Versailles at 3-3, then Marion Local (1-5), and Parkway (0-6).
And another reason why standings in January are such a big deal, along with five Coldwater titles by the girls, the boys have won four – in 2007 (first year of tournament), 2012, 2015, and 2020, and finished runner-up in 2016.
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