By BILL SNIER
COLUMBUS — For Addison Rudibaugh, it all came down to having a better mindset.
A year ago in her first OHSAA Division II state girls tournament appearance at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Rudibaugh finished 35th overall with a 534 series.
“My first time coming, I was more nervous,” the East Liverpool junior right-hander said. “This year I felt more OK. My mental game was a big problem last year.”
New year, new venue, new mental outlook.
Despite a 179 in Game 1, Rudibaugh followed with games of 235 and 216 for a 630 series to finish third overall individually and make first team All-Ohio during Saturday’s Division II girls state championships at HP Lanes.
“The first game, I struggled trying to keep my speed the same. But I didn’t do that,” said Rudibaugh, who said she was throwing around 13.5 mph. “But when we started to move, I was able to get it up to 15. I thought keeping it 14 to 15 worked the best.”
She also found a comfortable spot on the lanes.
“I found out if you could throw straight up, it worked the best,” said Rudibaugh, who used a Motiv Crimson Jackal. “I moved seven right of the middle dot and then went straight up 10 (board) basically.”
The physical game has not been a problem for Rudibaugh. Dealing with her mental game is another story.
“I was just talking bad to myself. I couldn’t miss one spare or I’d be done,” she added.
It was during Junior Gold her freshmen year that her parents had her listen to a podcast after she had bowled badly.
“I got this notebook out the next day and just started writing in it,” Rudibaugh said. “Positive things to myself, drawing in it … just connecting the dots to keep my mind going.
“I’ve been doing it ever since.”
She takes the notebook everywhere “to keep my mind off the last shot.” She also has been reading books by professional bowlers on dealing with the mental aspects of the game.
After shooting just 179 in Game 1, the old Rudibaugh might not have recovered. This time, it was different.
“I was a little upset, but I’m OK with it,” Rudibaugh said. “It’s in the past. I thought I did pretty well the last two games. In practice (Friday), I didn’t do very well until the third or fourth game when they broke down a bit.
“But they stayed basically the same today.”
TRIWAY DUO MAKE ALL-OHIO
Triway senior left-hander Emma Yoder and junior right-hander Kennedy Finley also reached All-Ohio second-team status. It was a first for Finley; Yoder was the 2022 individual state champion and finished ninth last season to also earn All-Ohio second team.
“In practice yesterday, I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t expect to do this well today, so I’m grateful for that,” said Finley, who shot 576 to finish ninth overall with a high game of 216. “I was surprised when I heard.”
Triway coach Corby Anderson said keeping a solid mental game has been a problem for Finley, who shot just 148 in Game 3.
“Her head gets to her and she loses it mentally,” Anderson said. “That’s what happened the last game.”
Yoder shot 585 to finish eighth, with a high game of 212 — her lone 200.
“The lanes were a little different than I expected. I also didn’t throw it well in any of my games,” said Yoder, who holds the Division II state record for series with 718 when she won the title.
“We followed Napoleon and they had a lefty, so there was a little more breakdown than I normally get.”
Yoder was surprised the scores dropped so low, with just four 600s in the field.
“We were between Napoleon and Kenton Ridge and watching them, I expected the scores to be higher than they were,” Yoder said. “When 11th was only 571, it kind of shocked me.”
This was the final appearance for Yoder, who will be attending and bowling at Jacksonville State (Ala.).
“I’m sad actually,” Yoder said. “I don’t know … I know it’s going to be different.”
Meanwhile, with the graduation of Yoder and fellow senior and former All-Ohioan Addy Meshew, Finley becomes the new team leader.
“It’s going to be a big load to carry with such a good team,” Finley said. “It’s going to be big.”
TAKING THE TITLE
Springfield Kenton Ridge, which halted Carrollton’s run in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 win, stopped Mechanicsburg 3-0 in the championship finals to claim its first state title. It was the Cougars’ fourth state appearance and first since 2017.
Scores were 179-127, 199-174 and 177-167.
Mechanicsburg was making its eighth state appearance and third straight, winning the state title in 2014.
NOTEBOOK: As with the boys Friday, the state format was changed for lane assignments with one team and one individual qualifier per pair of lanes, with teams in a four-pair block moving after each individual game and bowling all three Bakers on the fourth pair. … Attendance again was at 750 tickets sold. … The cut for the top 15 to make All-Ohio was at 561, with Elyria Open Door Christian’s Gabriella Riba getting the final honorable-mention berth. … Napoleon, Kenton Ridge, Triway and St. Marys Memorial each had two players finish among the top 15. … Kenton Ridge had the high individual game of 973 while Napoleon had the high Baker series of 592. St. Marys Memorial had the high Baker game of 225. … Caledonia River Valley senior Alexis Manning (662) had the high game of the day with 246 en route to finishing as state runner-up behind Carrollton’s Kaylee Russell (665). Mechanicsburg’s Faith Ford was second high with 241 and didn’t make All-Ohio, finishing with 552. … Division I takes the stage next weekend at HP Lanes, with the boys state tournament scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, followed by the girls at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.