By Becky Walz,
The Decorah girls bowling team claimed the top spot at the North Central Bowling Conference tournament last week and finished the season with a perfect 10-0 record Friday night. Members of the varsity squad contributing to the victory Wednesday, Feb. 7 were (front, l-r) Kennady Riehle, Kaelyn Kuhn (both alternates); (back) Head Coach Keith Bruening, Asmere Jensen, Marri Feuerhelm, Karlie Einck, Jasera Tweten, Rylee Averhoff, Addison Wicklund and Assistant Coach Michael Bruening. (Photo courtesy of Amy Averhoff)
The Decorah bowling teams geared up for the state-qualifying meet next week with top-notch finishes in the North Central Bowling Conference Wednesday and a match win over Columbus Catholic Friday at King Pin Entertainment Center.
Big finish
Having already secured the dual conference title for the third straight season last week, the Viking girls went after the tournament title and earned it.
In the baker-style tournament, the Lady Vikes finished the qualifying round as the top seed. Against Forest City in the bracket action, Decorah defeated the eight seed with baker games of 169 and 255 to advance to the semifinals. There it took two games (221, 195) to defeat Sumner-Fredericksburg. Second seed Charles City gave the Vikes a run for their money in the championship match. Decorah won the first baker game with a 168 before dropping the second with a 170. The girls bounced back to win game three with a 187.
“The girls were outstanding with spares and strikes on all day,” noted coach Keith Bruening. “Our girls made up their minds they were going to and all of the squad contributed. I could not be prouder of the eight girls.”
Competing for the Vikes were Addison Wicklund, Asmere Jensen, Marri Feuerhelm, Karlie Einck, Rylee Averhoff and Jasera Tweeten with Kaelyn Kuhn and Kennady Riehle as alternates.
The boys also had a good day, finishing as the conference runner-up. Qualifying second, the Vikes first match was versus the seventh seed Forest City. Decorah started strong with a 226 win, then dropped game two to Forest City with a 181, but fired a 254 to win game three and stay alive in bracket play. Decorah started the semifinal round with a big win over Denver with a 264, but once again saw the opponent battle back in game two as the Vikes rolled a 178. Coming back together, the Vikes won the tie breaker with a 223 to advance to the finals against Columbus. The top-seeded Sailors took the title despite Decorah’s game one victory (269).
Knocking down the pins for the Decorah boys were Tyler Novak, Jace Buddenberg, Cain Monreal-Rice, Alex Maki, Jordan Sims and Bryce Elsbernd as Beau Newhouse and Gavin Luzum served as alternates.
Final dual
Hitting their strides before the state-qualifying meets Monday and Tuesday, the bowling teams defeated Columbus Catholic Friday.
Finishing 10-0 in duals this season, the Decorah girls routed the Sailors 2,677 to 2,372. Baker games were 166, 210, 177, 145 and 152.
Wicklund, a senior captain, paced the Viking girls with a 439 (213, 226) with Einck a close second with 418 (228, 190). Jensen was contributed a 355 (160, 195), with Averhoff (155, 152), Feuerhelm (139, 169) and Tweten (128, 145) also on the lanes.
The Decorah boys finished the regular season with a nail-biter against Columbus Catholic, winning 3,045 to 3,012 taking a 9-1 record into the postseason. In the individual round, the Vikes led the visitors by 142 pins, but baker rounds of 176, 200, 215, 253 and 158 gave Decorah just enough to hang on for the win.
In the individual round Monreal-Rice shot strikes in the front eight as he looked for the perfect game, coming up short with a 266 and 202. Novak was on the board with a 406 (160, 249). Others on the lanes in varsity action included Buddenberg (197, 188), Elsbernd (215, 158), Maki (181, 194) and Sims (221, 185).
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