Moeller High School 2008-09 Bowling Articles

C6 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009

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HIGH SC:

High schools roundup

The Enqulrer;Amle Dworeckl

Nick Fazzio haloed Moeller to a fifth-olace finish in the GCL tournament Monday at Colerain Bowl. The

Notebook

St. Xavier rolling to state tournament Enquirer staff reports

St Xavier took first place at the district bowling tournament and earned itself a spot in next weekend's state championship.

St X, coming off last week's win in the sectional tournament, bested 23 teams and was Cincinnati's only team to advance to the state finals.

"It was a complete team effort; we used seven out of eight bowlers during the tournament," said St X coach AI Runkel. "Each one of these guys brings something special and different to the team."

The Bombers were led by junior Chris Weber, who bowled the day's second-highest game with a 279.

Weber finished with a 696 series.

Another leading scorer for the Bombers was junior T.]. Kathman, who bowled a 638 series and wasn't even in the starting lineup last week at sectionals. ''We have a very deep and diverse team, and I have confidence in any one of these guys to step in and make the most of their opportunity," said Runkel.

On March 7, St Xavier will com. pete at Tiki Lanes in Lancaster for the state championship, along with Middletown's Jordan Mack, who advanced to the state finals individually after totaling a 660 series. ''We need to continue to focus on the shot at hand," said Runkel.

"Keep the previous frame out of their minds and focus on the task at

DEER PARK AD RETIRING: Deer Park athletic director Terry Hartley will retire effective June 30, he said Friday. Hartley has been at Deer Park for 35 years, including the last eight years as AD. Hartley also served 32 years as a Deer Park assistant football coach and spent several years coaching JV and freshman basketball. Hartley also spent one year as Deer Park co-head football coach when the school was going through a coaching transition in the early 2000s. Before becoming AD, Hartley also taught math.

Hartley, 58, is the father of Finneytown head football coach Shane Hartley. Terry Hartley said he might assist his son on the Finneytown football staff next season.

FOOTBALL: Moeller junior offensive tackle Jeff Tanner has been offered a scholarship by Kent State, according to Moeller coach John Rodenberg. Tanner, who is 6-feet-4 and 275 pounds, also has an offer from Ohio University. • Wyoming junior defensive linemanJibreel Black (6-2, 260) has picked up offers from Michigan State and Bowling Green, according to Wyoming ¡coach Bernie Barre. Black has also been invited to Tennessee's Junior Day today.

Black has offers that also include UC, Minnesota, Ball State, Indiana, Kentucky, WestVrrginia, Minnesota and Ohio University.

High school bowling preview

Area's lanes expect tough competition St. X, La Salle, Elder strong

By Jeff Wanner

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~- --v ni and Josh Stewart.

Enquirer contributor

St. xavier has qualified for the state championships three times in Alan Runkel's five years as coach. After never finishing better than ninth, the Bombers are poised to go deep.

"I'm trying not to be over· confident," Runkel said.

"But, we have four juniors back who started as sophomores. To see the progress they've made is encourag· ing."

St. X. the defending Greater Catholic League South and sectional tournament champion, is led by junior Chris Weber, the GCL South Player of the Year with a 207.1 average.

Juniors Kevin Justice, a first-team league all-star: David Weiskittel. a second· team all-star; and T J. Kathman also return, along with senior Kevin Bergen.

Runkel believes those four are capable of averaging 200.plus.

"Last year, this group had little experience moving from bowling center to bowling center," said RlUlkel.

"Lanes play differently.

Some are conducive to high scores. Others, you better be making spares or you're in trouble. Our guys are making adjustments faster."

La Salle, which reached the state quarterfinals in 2()()6.{)7, should be among the area's top teams again.

The Lancers, who've had eight consecutive winning seasons, finished L.1-3 and second in the GCL at 4-2.

Senior Kyle Scott is the top returnee. Scott, who last year bowled a 521 two-game series. the second-best in school history, joins fellow · senior Brian McCollough and juniors T.]. DeLaet and Tony Burton. DeLaet owns the school record with a 535 two-game series. ''We will be very com pet· itive," said coach Paul Gebhardt, in his eighth year.

"Our experience should translate into a better squad.

This should be a great help in the postseason."

Elder, which has had one losing season in eight years, is led by returning starters Kyle Lonnemann, Mike Lah·

Despite finishing third last year with a 3-3 record in the tough GCL South, Elder was 13th in the qualifying round at state. best of anyar· ea school.

"We're young but hav1. match play experience fron1 • last season," said Elder coach Ray Littelmann. "W~ ' will need to improve quickly ~ to compete in the strong GCLSouth."

Hamilton, a perennial con:~ • tender in the Greater Miami Conference, is rebuilding. ''We lost a rather large group of seniors," said Big Blue coach Harold Peetz.

"We have a lot of new faces."

Hamilton will start two tal- . ented sophomores in Chris Lindsey and Kyle Tillery. who had a 299 score last . year. Erik Bundy, a senior. \'ill contribute as well.

According to coach Bon~ nie Hutchinson, Oak HiHs' boys' and girls' teams both will contend for league titles.

Alex Mcintosh, Keith Bunke and Stephen Kluesener will pace the boys.

Kayla Shelton and Chelsey Shelton lead the girls.

Despite graduating signif· icant talent, McAuley, the defending Girls' Greater Cill" cinnati League champion, is likely to contend again.

'The GGCL has gotten stronger this year," said first-year coach Ken Homer.

"Defending our title will be no easy task. It will be ex· tremcly difficult to replace (six) seniors, butwe11 be positioned to compete."

McAuley, the only area team to qualify for state last year, returns senior Jessyka Flowers, who was 11th at state with a 616 series. Senior Katie Ruehl and junior Katie Markus also are back McAuley will get stiff competition from Seton. The Saints, whose two losses last year both were to McAuley, return both top scorers.

Junior twins Nicole (182) and Pam Kettler (171) are back, along with seniors Jes· sica Luken, Amanda Sievers and Anna Gentry.

Men:y returns seven St'niors and has 15 girls averaging 150 or better. Seniors AI· lison Burnett, who's averaging 180, Erica Lee and Amanda Hein are back.

The Enquirer/Gary Landers

La Salle, with eight straight winning seasons, should be· one of the top teams. Junior T.J. Delaet owns the