Panthers boys rally past West Delaware

     It took three tries, but the Monticello High School boys bowling team finally got the best of West Delaware.

     It happened Feb. 2 at May City Bowl in Cedar Rapids, part of a three-school meet hosted by Isaac Newton Christian Academy.

     After having lost twice to West Delaware this season, once in Monticello, once in Manchester, the Panthers battled the Hawks on neutral lanes, and came out on top 3173 to 3100, with Isaac Newton finishing third at 2032.

     Monticello’s girls were defeated by West Delaware the same day, 2614 to 1856. Isaac Newton does not have a girls’ team.

     Monticello trailed by 12 pins after the individual round, and after three of the five Baker round games, the Hawks’ lead was 48.

     The Panthers took over after that, shooting 255 and 266 in the last two Baker games, to West Delaware’s 194 and 201, and won the meet by 73, 3173 to 3100. Isaac Newton Christian Academy, the host of the meet, finished third with 2032.

     “We finally saw glimpses of what I thought we would see, really, all year,” Monticello coach Brian Meyer said. “I think we’re on the right track.”

     Caleb Gillmore shot a 494 two-game series that included a 278 game. As the fifth- and 10^th-frame “anchor” bowler for the Baker round, Gillmore was at his best, getting at least two 10^th-frame strikes in each of the five games.

     “Caleb Gillmore is, at times, a man amongst boys in this sport right now,” Meyer said. “He is at the top of his game. He matched up really well and threw some very good shots.”

     Logan Farmer shot two games over 200 and finished with 427, and Levi Temple had a 402 series.

     West Delaware consistently has one of the top girls’ bowling programs in the state, and defeated Monticello’s girls for the third time this season.

     Karle Kramer led the Panthers with a 275 series that included a 151 game. Nora Sperfslage rolled a 164 on the way to a 265 series, and Aubree Fairley totaled 262.

     “They bowled well,” Meyer said. “West Delaware has a very good team, and we’re not there. But we had some great scores.”

     A home meet against Independence that was scheduled for Feb. 5 – Senior Night – was postponed, as Independence was closed Friday after the heavy snowstorm that hit the previous day. 

Feb. 2

(at May City Bowl,

Cedar Rapids)

BOYS VARSITY FINAL SCORE

     1, Monticello 3173; 2, West Delaware 3100;  3, Isaac Newton Christian Academy 2032.

Individual Round Score

     West Delaware 2094, Monticello 2082, Isaac Newton 1322.

Baker Round Score

(five games of team bowling)

     Monticello 1091, West Delaware 1006, Isaac Newton 710.

Monticello Results

     Caleb Gillmore 278-216–494, Logan Farmer 204-223–427, Levi Temple 198-204–402, Easton Lee 208-174–382, Jacob Farmer 198-179–377, Gary Pasker 200-143–343.

GIRLS VARSITY FINAL SCORE

     West Delaware 2614, Monticello 1856.

Individual Round Score

     West Delaware 1768, Monticello 1290.

Baker Round Score

(five games of team bowling)

     West Delaware 846, Monticello 566.

Monticello Results

     Karle Kramer 124-151–275, Nora Sperfslage 164-101–265, Aubree Fairley 143-119–262, Aleasha Schilling 129-126–255, Emma Hynick 109-124–233, Emma Sperfslage 132-83–215.