COLUMBUS — It’s a repeat for the Coldwater girls bowling team and a three-peat for the Western Ohio High School Bowling Conference.
Coldwater defeated Hubbard three games to two in the best-of-five baker format to claim its second consecutive state title in the OHSAA state girls bowling championships at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl on Friday. The Cavaliers are the first varsity girls team to do so in the history of this OHSAA event.
It was the third consecutive runner-up finish for Hubbard, who also fell to St. Marys in 2011.
Coldwater's Erika Hartings and Kelsey Koesters captured individual gold and silver in the individual category but the team gold clearly meant more to them.
The match came down to the final two balls of the final frame and Hartings was up to the challenge as Coldwater handed Hubbard a 180-171 finale.
“I really did not know — did not want to know exactly what I needed," Harting said. "I just wanted to make sure that I got a mark.”
She got the best mark one could get with a 10th frame strike and the crowd let loose with the cheers.
St. Marys, the 2011 state champions, got off to a great start but faltered in games two and three of the qualifying round.
St. Marys' Emily Walters a member of that championship team and a senior leader this season said, “I could have done better today but I am really proud of the team.”
“We really wanted to come out in the bakers and let others know what we were capable of.”
Versailles of the WOHSBC made the round of eight, falling to Coldwater in match one.
Be sure to check out Sunday's Lima News sports section for a complete report of the state bowling tournament.
