COLUMBUS — Bowling in his first Division II Boys State Championships, East Canton High School senior Bryce Beadnell was a bit overwhelmed at the start.
“It wasn’t a lot,” said Beadnell, who finished with a 498 series (60th place) after a slow start. “I would say it was a lot like districts, except that I had trouble with the playing conditions at the start.”
Beadnell started with 131 in Game 1, struggling with six opens including two splits and several washouts at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.
“We had a lot of two-handers on our pair, and where they were playing was pushing oil into his line. It made it tough,” East Canton coach Todd Thomas said. “When we started out, the ball just didn’t want to finish for him.
“We moved with it throughout the day and got to the point where he felt more comfortable. His line never really broke down. He had to be pretty precise.”
Beadnell didn’t have an open frame in Game 2 before finishing with two opens and a double in Game 3.
“It means a lot to be able to come down here and experience the whole thing,” said Beadnell, who plans on bowling league play when he graduates.
Thomas sees this graduating class as the end of a two-year cycle for the Hornets.
“We really thought we had a team that could have gotten out this year. But injuries hurt us late in the year,” Thomas said. “When we went to sectionals, we weren’t even sure what we had available. We kind of piecemealed it together, and at the finish we still only missed by about 130 pins (for district).
“These guys stuck with it and converted more spares this season, but if we were healthy, I think we could have gotten further. Next year, we will be hurting with losing three seniors and then having three juniors back. We will have to see where we are at.”
As for Beadnell, he was happy with his state experience.
“I feel pretty good. I came and bowled what I could,” Beadnell said. “Overall I’m happy that I was here.”
GIRLS ARE NEXT UP
District champions Carrollton and Triway along with Central Catholic and Minerva take to the lanes during the Girls Division II State Tournament at 10:45 a.m. Saturday.
After what they witnessed from their boys teams during Friday’s action, coaches Dave Davis and Vince Yoder will have some advice for the Warriors and Titans, respectively.
“This is the fifth trip in a row for the girls, so these seniors (the Warriors have two) have made four straight. They should be well aware of the nerves and what it takes,” Davis said. “Just hit their marks and make spares.
“Three 850 games or 900s and you’re in the money. It’s just getting over that hump and off the nerves. Hopefully, our girls will be better under the pressure.”
The Warriors were fifth following qualifying a year ago before losing the a first-round match to Hubbard. They missed the cut to the top eight the previous two seasons; they were in Division I in 2020.
Triway doesn’t have a senior on the roster.
“What they witnessed today, they can’t allow themselves to do (tomorrow). They can’t start mentally pressing because the physical game goes along with it,” Yoder said. “You have to make sure you stay loose and be up the entire time.
“But you still have to make the shots when they count.”
Triway made the cut the past two seasons, losing in the first round last season but reaching the semifinals in 2020 before falling to Coldwater.
NOTEBOOK
IN THE FUTURE: The state tournament format of three regular games and three Baker System games for qualifying will remain the same. However, there is consideration being given to again putting one team and one individual on a pair as in 2021, similar to what was used during the Northeast District tournaments.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS: Mechanicsburg’s Peyton Lesson took the individual state title with a 684 series, 22 pins ahead of second place Nathan Book of Goldwater. Both are seniors. There was a three-way tie for the final spots on the All-Ohio teams. Gaining honorable-mention status were both from Hillsboro — junior Shaun Rodgers and freshman Andrew Tomko — with 594. They earned the 14th and 15th spots due to high games with 234 and 225, respectively. Odd man out was Fairport Harbor Harding senior Ryan Chipps, who was 16th after a 206 in the tiebreaker. The top 15 bowlers were All-Ohio. Also earning honors from the Northeast were Fairport Harding’s Joe Justinger (657) and Struthers’ Brennan Baber (612).
NOTEBOOK Hometown said redeemed tickets for the boys Division II was at 700, with the same attendance expected for the girls tournament Saturday. … Teams and individuals returned to pre-COVID rules, with two teams per pair of lanes and eight individuals on a pair. … Hillsboro’s second-game score of 1,109 was sixth all-time in Division II. The top score was 1,154 by Coldwater in 2016. … There was a ninth- and 10th-frame rolloff for fifth and sixth position, with Liberty Center topping St. Paris Graham 48-38.
