Cardinal bowlers sweep Knoxville

Dallas King and David Holmes gave Newton’s boys bowling team a big boost right off the bat during a head-to-head matchup with Knoxville on Saturday.

King and Holmes both rolled career-best scores in the opening game at Cardinal Lanes and a trio of season-best series helped Newton edge the Panthers for its first dual win of the season.

King began his day with a career-best 230 and finished with a season-best 362 series. Holmes rolled a career-best 201 in his opening game and Andrew Wiles played on varsity for the first time this season and rolled a career-best 188 in his second game as the Cardinals edged Knoxville by 61 pins.

“The boys fought to keep a lead over Knoxville,” Newton bowling coach Christie Hughes said. “They were determined to bring home their first win, especially after placing fifth at the home invitational.”

Newton’s boys defeated Knoxville 2,467 to 2,406. The Cardinals led by 74 pins after the first two games and held off the Panthers in the Baker games.

Newton’s girls had no trouble with Knoxville. The Cardinals got a career-best series from Genessa Slings, a season-best series from Libbie Keith and a 714-pin victory.

“All of our teams did great on Saturday,” Hughes said. “Our JV teams continue to improve with their time on the lanes.”

Newton’s girls varsity defeated Knoxville 2,373 to 1,659 after the Cardinals had seven of the top eight scores. The Cardinals are 2-0 in duals this season.

King finished with the second best score of the day in the boys’ competition. After his 230 in the opener, he rolled a 132 in the second game for a season-best 362 series.

In the opener, he started with a spare and then rolled five straight strikes.

Holmes began his day with a career-best 201 and followed it up with a 159. His 360 series was the third best score of the day.

Wiles started with a 156 but ended with a career-best 188 in his varsity debut. His 344 series was fourth among all boys varsity bowlers.

Logan Bown rolled a 318 series for sixth, Sebastian King turned in a season-best 301 series and Owen Muhs registered a 263 series.

Knoxville’s Robert Sloan edged Dallas King with a 367 series. Jaxson Willis was fifth overall with a 328 series.

Newton’s JV boys were led by Owen Guldberg, whose 373 series would have led all varsity bowlers. He rolled a 216 in the second game and Tamion Adams recorded a 316 series for the Cardinal JV team.

Keith finished last season as one of the girls team’s best bowlers and she appears to be trending in that direction again. Her 222 in game two was a career-best and her 382 series was a season best and good enough for first among girls varsity bowlers. She started her day with a 160.

Slings also had a career day. She rolled a career-best 192 in the opener and a 162 in the second game. Her 354 series is a career-best and she was third overall.

Bailey Hansen (303 series), Beka Weithers (288), Kaitlyn Gifford (253) and Marissa Daughtrey (221) finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the individual race.

“The girls did a phenomenal job staying focused,” Hughes said. “Libbie Keith and Genessa Slings were on fire today with great games and series.”

Knoxville’s Paige Ludington was the runner-up with a 355 series. Her best individual game was a 197.

Leading the Newton girls JV was Olivia Pickerell, who rolled a 240 series.