The Daily Standard
Story Archive
The Celina girls bowling team captured the program's first state championship in winning the Division I title in Columbus on Saturday. The Bulldogs swept Gahanna Lincoln in three games to win the tournament after reaching the final four last season.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Two years ago, the Celina girls bowling team just missed making the championship round in its first-ever state tournament appearance.
Last year, they were a win away from reaching the championship match.
This year, the Bulldogs were determined to win - and came through big.
Celina fought through a hard-fought five-game semifinal to advance to the championship match, sweeping Gahanna Lincoln to win the program's first-ever Division I state championship at HP Lanes in Columbus.
The title is the first team title for Celina since the Bulldog boys won the Division I state bowling title in 2018, and the first for a girls program since the 1990-91 girls basketball team won the Division I title.
Chloe Bruce led Celina with a 537 series to help the Bulldogs win their first state bowling title.
File photo
As the team came back to Plaza Lanes to celebrate late Saturday night, coach Josh Goff couldn't hold back his pride.
"They're the hardest working team in the state. I'll put this group against anybody," said Goff. "They're not just great bowlers, they're great people off and on the lanes. They truly love each other and care for each other. So proud of them, so happy of them. Just an unbelievable day."
Qualifying went well for Celina, standing in fifth place after the opening round of three regulation games with a total of 2,558 pins. The Bulldogs stayed consistent in the baker game round. The final tally of 926 over five bakers was third-best among the 16-team field, moving Celina into fourth seed with a final tally of 3,484.
The Bulldogs opened the eight-team championship bracket with Ashville Teays Valley. A 204 opening game allowed Celina to sweep Teays Valley 3-0 in the best-of-five series 204-133, 181-173, 178-39 to advance and play top-seeded Hillsboro.
Against the Indians, Celina struggled in the opener as Hillsboro won 202-159. The Bulldogs bounced back to take the next two games 181-168 and 157-151. Hillsboro force a fifth game in taking game four 208-153 before Celina won a hard-fought 161-157 final game to advance to the final against Gahanna Lincoln, which defeated Massillon Perry 3-2 to reach the final.
"Hillsboro, being the number one seed and a great team, once we got past them, it was just unbelievable," said Goff. "We knew once we got through there, we had to keep making shots and we'll be fine."
After winning the fifth game against Hillsboro, the Bulldogs never looked back, sweeping Lincoln 178-153, 142-125, 190-173 to bring home the gold.
"An unbelievable feeling," said Goff. "To watch these girls work hard day in and day out and to know [they] earned this today, not just today but for years, I'm so happy for them."
Celina's Marissa Hole bowled a 531 series for Celina to help the Bulldogs win their first state bowling title.
File photo
Junior Chloe Bruce led Celina with a 537 series, good for 34th place. Senior Marissa Hole was 35th with a 531 series. Brynly Huber rolled a 510 while Corinne Westgerdes, who was nearly substituted due to early struggles, finished with a 503 series.
"You can't get into any bigger situation (after) being told you're coming out," said Goff of Westgerdes. "She made shot after shot after shot after that. She showed she had it today."
Ryann Eckhardt rounded out the Celina scoring with a 477 series
Bellefontaine's Gracie Hood was the individual medalist with a 679 series. Western Buckeye League Bowler of the Year Mabel Adams of Defiance was 15th with a 576 series, earning honorable mention All-Ohio honors. Van Wert's Aydreigh Hanicq was 18th with 567.
