The Columbus North girls bowling team qualified for Saturday’s semistate in Indianapolis.
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After losing four girls from last year’s state-qualifying team, Columbus North bowling coach Chris Jones wasn’t optimistic about his girls team making it very far this season.
But the Bull Dogs have come through with a sectional title and a regional runner-up finish and now are just one step away from making it back to state. They’ll look for a top-three finish in Saturday’s semistate at Expo Bowl in Indianapolis.
“We lost more than half the team from last year, so we had some brand new bowlers that hadn’t thrown a bowling ball ever before the high school season started, so we’ve come a long way in a pretty quick time,” Jones said. “Honestly, I didn’t think we had the material to make it this far, but the new bowlers have stepped up. They’re in here (at Columbus Bowling Center) practicing their guts out, trying to figure out how to bowl. They’re doing a lot better.”
Jones’ daughter, junior Lexie Jones, and junior Ragan Mathis lead the team and have qualified for semistate as individuals. Senior Savannah Steele is the other returner from last season.
Freshman Victoria Carter came in with bowling experience. But the other newcomers — juniors Kloie Douglas, Emily Torres and Emma Warnock — were new to the sport.
“When I look back at it, that first night of practice, I had three girls that had never thrown a bowling ball before and didn’t have their own equipment,” Chris Jones said. “They were just buddies of buddies that heard the girls team needed some players.”
North won the Greensburg Sectional on Jan. 14. On Saturday, they made it to the championship of the Jasper Regional before falling to the host Wildcats.
Columbus North’s Lexie Jones has qualified for Saturday’s girls semistate.
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“I think it’s really impressive,” Lexie Jones said. “We had a lot of competition team-wise at regional, and individually, too. It was nice to persevere through all of it and finally get the results we were looking for.”
Columbus North’s Ragan Mathis has qualified for Saturday’s girls semistate.
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“We have this whole brand new team, and we’ve worked really hard to make it where we are, so I’m really proud of us,” Mathis added. “I’ve improved a lot from last year, from making my hand different and stuff, so I’m pretty proud of myself for that.”
In addition to the three teams that qualify for state, the top seven individuals also advance.
“I think I have a pretty decent chance at least,” Lexie Jones said. “I’m hoping to make the top four, but if I just make top-seven and move on, that would be cool, too. I’ve been working really hard at perfecting the little things the past few weeks.”
“I think as long as I make my spares and be consistent with my marks, I’ll make the top seven,” Mathis added. “My goal is top four, but as long as I make it to state, I’ll be pretty happy, and I think as long as the team makes their spares and has no open frames, we’ll be good to go.”
Meanwhile, two boys individuals from Columbus also have qualified for semistate as individuals. North sophomore Landon Million and Columbus East senior Elijah Siegelin will compete on Saturday.
Columbus North’s Landon Million has qualified for Saturday’s boys semistate.
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Million, whose father Clint Million coaches the North boys team, made it to regional last year.
“I’m super excited, to be honest,” Million said. “I think everybody has a little nerves, but overall, I feel very confident, and I feel as though I have a good chance of making it to state. I love the centers up there. I really enjoy bowling there, so I’m feeling very comfortable with everything.”
Columbus North’s Elijah Siegelin has qualified for Saturday’s boys semistate.
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Although he has attended East all four years, Siegelin competed for the North JV team last year since the Olympians did not have a team. But when East added a team this year, he stayed home and bowled for the Olympians.
East’s Jackson Herold and Lilly Lacy also had qualified for the boys and girls regional. The Olympians are coached by Doug Herold.
“I‘m really excited,” Siegelin said. “I’m a little nervous, but I can’t wait for Saturday. The bowling alley that we’re going to, I grew up there when I used to live in Indy, so I’m a little bit more confident in my ability there.”
Chris Jones also is excited about his team’s opportunity to compete for a shot at state.
“We have a chip and a chair,” he said. “I honestly don’t know how strong the teams are from the other conferences. We don’t see them. Deep down, I think we have a shot. They proved me wrong last week.”
