Oskaloosa Girls Bowling Team Makes Historic Run at State Tournament

In a historic moment of teamwork, the Oskaloosa Girls Bowling Team made a remarkable appearance at the Team State Tournament held at Cadillac XBC Lanes in Waterloo. Competing among the state’s best, the team showcased exceptional talent and determination, finishing as the 5th seed in a nail-bitingly close qualification round.

Despite a strong start, the team narrowly missed the 4th seed by a mere 11 pins, with only 30 pins separating the 4th through 7th place teams, highlighting the intense competition. Throughout the day, the girls maintained an impressive average score of 170 across 15 qualifying baker games, demonstrating their prowess and unity under pressure.

Coach Tony Witt expressed immense pride in the team’s performance, especially noting their resilience in the match-play format. Although the girls faced two tough losses, they battled on, leading two games to one in both matches before narrowly missing victory. Their match play average increased to 173 over ten baker games, underscoring their improvement and fighting spirit.

The tournament served as a platform for showcasing talent and gaining valuable experience for the returning players – Regan Abrahamson, Abby Tarr, Ava Ridenour, and Sidney Thompson – to build upon for the next season.

Coach Witt also thanked the team’s two seniors, Morgan Drost and Kaylee Haugen, for their dedication and contributions. Haugen, in particular, was celebrated for striking a perfect score on her final high school ball, marking a memorable end to her high school bowling career.

Coach Witt encouraged the team not to dwell on the match play losses but to recognize their historic achievement. This year marked the first time an Oskaloosa Girls Team qualified for the state team tournament.