Hardin County elementary schools crown County Champions in bowling

The Savannah Bowling Center recently hosted the first-ever county tournament for elementary bowlers. The tournament crowned team champions in boys and girls competition and also crowned individual champions in each division.

Hardin County High School bowling coach and bowling center owner David Channell was excited about the interest in bowling throughout the county. “Each event was exciting, and it’s good to see how many young people are interested in bowling.” Channell also commented on the excitement level during the championship events. “The Savannah Bowling Center was standing room only to cheer these bowlers on and the excitement was high. I wish more people from the county could have been here. It was a great atmosphere,” added Channell.

Channell instituted the elementary bowling program last year with teams from each school invited to attend. The program grew this year with the tournaments capping off a season that ran in April and May. Kids from East Hardin, West Hardin, Parris South, Northside, and Savannah Christian Academy participated in the league. It was open to students in third through fifth grades.

Parris South Maroon swept the team competition by winning both the girls and boys divisions. East Hardin Gold #1 teams had secured the number-one spot in the tournament by finishing first in each division during the nine-match regular season.

The singles tournament consisted of three rounds. The first round consisted of each bowler bowling three games. The field was cut in half with the top fifty-percent returning for the second round. The second round consisted of each bowler bowling two games with the pin fall added to their total from the first round. The top four boys and girls advanced to the medal round to bowl each finalist in round-robin format. Ten bonus pins were given for each head to head win. After nine total games, the 2011 Hardin County Elementary Bowling County Singles Champions were crowned.

Faith Welch from Parris South won the individual girls’ competition. Nancy Prather finished second overall for the girls. Morgan Lambert and Brianna Murrell also advanced to the medal round in the girls’ division. Jacob Short from Parris South won the individual competition for the boys. Matt Napper finished second overall. Ander Talley and Austin Harris also advanced to the medal round for the boys.

Scoring from the Individual Tournament First Round

Boys: Jacob Short (377), Matt Napper (319), Ander Talley (314), Cayden Cagle (296), Austin Harris (267), Daniel Nolan (258), Stephen Droke (258), Austin Fowler (254), and Tyler Cryer (253).

Girls: Faith Welch (376), Nancy Prather (329), Kenzie Gean (286), Morgan Lambert (285), Lilli Stanfill (283), Brianna Murrell (282), Claudia Michael (272), Taia Sorrell (271), Macy Thompson (266), Lacy Tims (251), Chloe Stamp (240), Bailey Wolfe (236), and Whitney Ponds (234)

Second Round

Boys: Jacob Short (626), Matt Napper ( 537), Ander Talley (504), Austin Harris (455), Stephen Droke (440), Cayden Cagle (439), Daniel Nolan (427), Austin Fowler (417), Tyler Cryer (404)

Girls: Faith Welch (615), Nancy Prather (577), Morgan Lambert and Brianna Murrell (470), Kenzie Gean (460), Claudia Michael (454), Lilli Stanfill (452), Lacy Tims (439), Taia Sorell (434), Macy Thompson (432), Chloe Stamp (385), Bailey Wolfe (357), Whitney Ponds (347)

Medal Round

Boys: Jacob Short (1,123), Matt Napper (960), Ander Talley (925), Austin Harris (881)

Girls: Faith Welch (1,154), Nancy Prather (1,001), Morgan Lambert (952), Brianna Murrell (920)