The Daily Standard
Story Archive
Fort Recovery's Brooklyn Wyerick was the anchor as the Indians came in second in the Midwest Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday and won a share of their first conference title.
FORT RECOVERY - Fort Recovery came into the Midwest Athletic Conference girls bowling tournament undefeated, and it won its first two matches at Miracle Lanes on Saturday to clinch its first-ever MAC championship.
Versailles, which took its only loss against Fort Recovery in December, got revenge in Saturday's finals to win the tournament and a share of the title, its third straight.
"We didn't bowl well to start the day, but we battled through, never gave up," Versailles coach Tyler Phlipot said. "It's a good tournament. It's the MAC, every team pushes you to the end. Hats off to Fort Recovery, they're a good team."
The Indians got a bye and started in the best-of-five baker rounds against Parkway, recovering from a defeat in the second game to win the next two and move on to the finals. With their 6-0 regular-season record, they were guaranteed at least a share of the title.
Versailles, the second overall seed at 5-1 in the MAC, beat Marion Local 1,911-1,550 in the first round to reach the semifinals against Coldwater, then won three straight to earn a four-game victory over the Cavaliers.
The Tigers took a low-scoring opening game in the best-of-five final round, but the Indians won the next two, converting 10 of 14 spares in Games 2 and 3 after making just three of nine in the first. Versailles, which rolled its two worst baker games to start the finals, bounced back and got seven spares in the fourth game for a 177-134 win to force a deciding fifth.
The Tigers opened the fifth game with three strikes as Fort Recovery left its first three open, and they pulled away for a 205-149 win to split the crown.
"The girls have been in this situation before this year," Phlipot said. "We've bowled in two other tournaments that came down to the end. I just told them in the huddle, 'Hey, you guys have been here before. You know what to do. Go get it.' "
In addition to seniors Carlie Gehret, Alayna Henry, Samantha Yerick and junior Danielle Francis, Phlipot added senior Megan Mangen to the rotation for the last two baker games, and she turned in two spares and two strikes for the Tigers.
Versailles' Danica York bowls during Saturday's MAC tournament in Fort Recovery.
Versailles rolled seven strikes and went 12 for 15 on spares in the final two games, and its 205 mark in the fifth was the fourth-highest baker game score of the tournament.
"They say in other sports, 'Defense wins championships' - spares win championships in bowling," Phlipot said. "You throw four or five spares in a row and throw a double in there with a strike, that helps out big time."
Fort Recovery struggled with spare shooting again in the final two games, making less than half its chances.
"We tend to be a spare team, we don't get as many strikes as the other girls, and we were just, just short on most of those spares," Fort Recovery coach Alison Rosegrant said. "We left a lot of nine-pins, and we almost had them.
"I told the girls, I feel great about what they did today. We're going to work on spares next week so we're ready for sectionals."
The Indians' No. 5 bowler, Brooklyn Wyerick, accounted for six spares apiece and rolled seven strikes. She also knocked down the 4, 7 and 10 pins for a spare to finish the fourth game of the finals.
"Brooklyn has been our anchor for the last four years," Rosegrant said. "She is cool and calm under pressure. I know she can strike out any 10th frame she gets."
Coldwater beat New Bremen in the first round, and after losing to Versailles, the Cavaliers swept Parkway to claim third place. New Bremen beat Marion Local and Minster in the consolation bracket to tie the Wildcats for fifth in the final standings.
Coldwater's Emily Brunswick had the highest individual score in the first round with a 412 series, beating out Wyerick and teammate Brittany Burden by two pins. Henry paced Versailles with a 367, Ashtlynn Muhlenkamp led Parkway with a 330, Lila Kremer had a 328 for the Flyers and Tara Rindler had a 304 for Minster.
All the MAC teams except Versailles will start the postseason in the Division II sectionals at Community Lanes, with the boys bowling Thursday at 10 a.m. and the girls on Friday. Versailles is at Rollhouse Dayton, with the boys on Feb. 13 and the girls on Feb. 15.
"We know we can beat the MAC teams," Rosegrant said. "We know St. Marys is going to be a challenge, but after today, these girls feel confident, I'm confident in them. I don't think we're going to have any issues."
