January 04, 2025

Newton boys claim Cardinal Invitational bowling title

Newton girls take second at home

By Jocelyn Sheets
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Newton High’s boys claimed the team title at Saturday’s Newton Cardinal Invitational bowling tournament at Cardinal Lanes. The Cardinal boys rallied past Knoxville to win with a final score of 2,694 in the six-team meet. Members of the Newton team are, left to right, Eli Ingle, Alex Frymoyer, Cutter Benac, Carter VanderSchel, Devon Young and Nate Keith. VanderSchel and Benac were first and second individually. Newton’s girls were second in a five-team competition as Waukee won the team title. (Submitted Photo)

Finding their groove on their home lanes are Newton High’s Cardinal boys. The Cardinal boys wiped out a 34-pin deficit to Waukee to win the 2018 Newton Cardinal Invitational team title on Saturday.

Waukee was up 1,855-1,819 after the individual games. Newton came up with a strong Baker Games performance — 875-804 — to beat Waukee, 2,694-2,659.

Newton High’s girls finished second to the Waukee girls. Waukee rolled to a 2,694-2,368 win at the Cardinal Invitational.

There were five girls’ teams competing and six boys’ teams on the lanes at Cardinal Lanes.

In the boys’ division, Oskaloosa was third at 2,398 and Knoxville was fourth at 2,247. Mason City took fifth at 1,564 and Isaac Newton Christian Academy was sixth at 1,361.

Newton junior Carter VanderSchel was the top boys’ bowler with a 435 series. Cardinal teammate and senior Cutter Benac rolled a 431 tying with Waukee’s Joe Jensen for second.

Mason City’s girls were third at 2,234. Knoxville took fourth at 2,073 and Oskaloosa was fifth at 1,769.

“It was an amazing day on the lanes,” Newton bowling head coach Christie Hughes said. “I’m pretty pleased with how the boys and girls teams played. We had a lot of fans come out to cheer the team on and that always helps keep them motivated.”

Hughes said the Cardinal boys were really geared up going into the Baker Games because they knew they were close, really close.

VanderSchel had games of 222 and 213 and Benac came back from a 191 first game to post a 240. Junior Alex Frymoyer bowled a 349 on games of 212 and 137 and senior Devon Young had a 321 (132-189).

Junior Eli Ingle had a 283 series with games of 116 and 167. Nate Keith, a junior, had a 272 (153-119). The Cardinal boys had Baker Games scores of 220, 168, 135, 224 and 128.

Waukee took control of the girls’ division with a solid 1,805-pin count in the individual game portion of the meet. It was led by Lauren Daley and Maddie Peterson at 395 and 382, who finished first and second individually. Knoxville’s Lily Cieslak was third at 363.

“Keely Birkenholtz rolled her first 200 game today and Tanya Hernandez is proving to be very consistent in her bowling,” Hughes said. “The girls improved their overall score by 141 from last year’s invite, which is really exciting to see.”

Sophomore Tanya Hernandez paced the Cardinal girls with a 341 series on games of 166 and 175. Senior Keely Birkenholtz had a 337 after throwing a 200 in her first game and a 137 in the second.

Sophomore Abby Price posted a 324 (189-135) and senior Alicia Miller had a 302 (125-177). Taylor Johnson, a senior, had a 293 (125-168) and sophomore Jenna Miller had a 275 (139-136).

Newton’s Baker Games scores were 151, 149, 137, 187 and 147. Waukee was up 18,05-1,597 over Newton going into the Baker Games. Newton had a 771-pin count in the Baker Games.

“They are all working really hard this year,” Hughes said of the Cardinal bowlers. “Coach (Gina) McGinley and I are very proud of the improvements they have made already.”

The Newton bowling teams will host Pella at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Cardinal Lanes.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com