Newton’s new-look bowlers sweep Gilbert at Cardinal Lanes

After losing most of its varsity roster to graduation last season, it was supposed to be a rebuild for the Newton boys bowling team.

But, after the Cardinals posted what would have been their fourth-best score from last season, it just might be a re-load for a program which has reached the state tournament the past two seasons.

“We had a great night on the lanes,” Newton head bowling coach Christie Lester said. “I was really impressed with how well our bowlers did at our first meet. We have a lot of new bowlers and those returning bowlers are trying to set a good pace for everyone.”

Five Cardinals made their varsity debuts, the two freshmen in the lineup rolled back-to-back 200-plus games to begin their careers and Newton downed Gilbert 3,025 to 2,640 at Cardinal Lanes in the boys matchup.

The Newton girls also lost a handful of bowlers to graduation. This year’s group got off to a 1-0 start, too, though after downing the Tigers 2,045 to 1,556.

“I anticipated a 2,800 pin score for the boys,” Lester said. “We talked about the goal going into the match and they decided they wouldn’t settle for less than 3,000. They definitely pulled it off.”

The Newton boys (1-0) led Gilbert 1,999 to 1,676 after the individual round. The Cardinals posted a Baker score of 1,026 to stay in front. Their two best Baker games were 241 and 279.

“The boys had a couple of great Baker games and there was a lot of energy wrapped into game four,” Lester said.

Austin Kennedy is the lone varsity returner from last season. He opened his final year with a 404 series. He rolled single games of 185 and 219 and finished fourth overall.

His younger brother Parker Kennedy and fellow freshman Jeremiah Killmer stole the show on Monday though.

Killmer was the overall winner with a 444 debut series. He rolled single games of 224 and 220. His opening game included five straight strikes.

Parker Kennedy was the runner-up with a 421 series. He opened with a 201 and finished with a 220.

Gentry Swarts and Nathan Hauber tied for fifth with identical 365 series in their varsity debuts. Swarts rolled individual games of 171 and 194 and Hauber produced single games of 192 and 173.

Ethan Valtman was the final varsity bowler and he finished 10th with a 296 series. He had single games of 134 and 162.

Carter Maki (351), Jarret Sweeney (323), Thaddeus Lewis (314) and Braden Baskerville (305) all eclipsed 300 series at the JV level and Hudson Swarts turned in a 299 on JV2.

Gilbert’s Jaden Smith finished third in the varsity matchup with a 409 series and Chase Deike was seventh with a 358.

“We’re going to take it one meet at a time and focus on improving for each match,” Lester said. “Our program continues to be strong. We just need to show up ready to dominate every time.”

Gabbie Humphrey led the Newton girls (1-0) and finished first overall with a 327 series. Her first game of 170 featured four straight strikes and she ended her day with a 157.

Aeris Archer placed second after posting a career-best series of 299. She opened with a career-best 180 and finished with a 119.

Marissa Burns (297) and Alex Schultz (231) also registered career-best series in third and fifth, respectively. Burns had single games of 153 and 144 and Schultz tallied single games of 105 and a career-best 126.

Tamika Rodenborn made her varsity debut and finished seventh with a 220 series. Kelly Holmes placed eighth with a 211 series.

Rodenborn’s single games were 123 and 97 and Holmes posted single-game scores of 111 and 100.

Lina Hinds led the Newton girls JV with a 229 series.

Gilbert’s Ava Klatt finished fourth with a 252 series and Keira Anderson was sixth with a 227.

The Cardinal girls led 2,045 to 1,556 after the individual games. They extended their lead in Bakers with a 671. Newton’s best Baker game was a 165.

“The girls are still working on some fundamentals,” Lester said. “Gabbie struggled finding a good line that would come into the pocket, but she hung in there and was able to pull out a good series.

“Marissa bowled well above her average, which was a wonderful surprise.”