COLUMBUS — Perry’s continuing quest for its first state bowling title ended in the quarterfinals, but one Panther joined two Wadsworth players in reaching All-Ohio status during Saturday’s OHSAA Division I State Bowling Championships at HP Lanes.
The Panthers, after tying for the lead at one point in qualifying, advanced again to match play during their 10th straight trip to the state championships, 14th overall.
PANTHERS FALL SHORT
Perry finished third after the opening three regular team games and five Baker System games with 3,575 total pinfall, 145 pins behind top-seeded and East-Southeast District champion Hillsboro (3,720).
The Panthers, state runners-up a year ago to Vandalia Butler, went to five games in their opening match against No. 6 seed Gahanna Lincoln before falling 3-2. Perry won Game 4 196-186 to force a Game 5 before falling 212-150 in the finale.
Celina, the No. 4 seed making just its third state appearance, swept past Lincoln 3-0 in the title match to earn its first state title. It won games 178-153, 142-125 and 190-171. The Lions were making their ninth state appearance and were seeking their fourth state title overall.
Perry, the Northeast District champion, was the lone district team to make the cut to match play.
Wadsworth finished 12th overall (3,249), with 2023 champion Nordonia (13th, 3,183), Austintown Fitch (15th, 3,128) and Wooster, making its first state appearance in school history, (16th, 3,005) trailing the Panthers.
Claymont Northmont claimed the final match-play spot with 3,391, finishing just 17 pins ahead of Beavercreek (3,374). Beavercreek made a run by outscoring Northmont 862-764 during the Baker round. Perry shot just 805 during Bakers.
INDIVIDUAL RUNS
Despite falling short as a team, the Grizzlies had two players earn All-Ohio honors. All-Ohio recognition went to the top 15 individual finishers in the field.
Grizzlies junior Cassidy Myers finished fifth overall with a 630 series, including shooting 234 and 228 her final two games, to earn first-team honors. She finished 74th in the field a year ago.
Joining her as an honorable-mention selection was fellow junior Aubrey Masuda, who shot 588 after starting with 215 and 213. Masuda finished 44th at state a year ago for Wadsworth.
Perry junior Alexis Reeves earned the final spot on the second team with a 593 series, including 202 in Game 1.
Bellefontaine senior Gracie Hood captured the individual state title with a 679 series, one of eight 600 series, with Hillsboro sophomore Rylie Ison taking second with 667. Haylee Yelton of Bellefontaine was the 2025 state individual champion.
Backing up Reeves for Perry during the team event were seniors Alex Devore (555) and Arielle Clapper (554) along with freshman Riley Thomas (541).
Celina was led by junior Chloe Bruce (537), senior Marissa Hole (531) and junior Brynly Huber (510).
Sophomore Madeline Ayers led the Knights with 516, followed by señor Natalie Barnes and sophomore Kayla Joo, both with 509.
Junior Mallory Legg was high for Wooster with 472 and senior Ainsley Shetler had 462.