Newton bowlers finish second, fourth at home tournament

Austin Kennedy stayed locked in and Gentry Swarts and Jeremiah Killmer both posted career-best single-game scores, but it wasn’t enough for the Newton boys bowling team to claim the championship at the Newton Invitational on Saturday.

The Cardinals rallied past Oskaloosa in the Baker games but couldn’t overcome Waukee’s Baker round at Cardinal Lanes.

Waukee won the boys tournament title with 3,103 pins, while Newton (3,022) and Oskaloosa (3,004) both cleared 3,000 pins, too.

On the girls’ side, Gabbie Humphrey posted a season-best single game score and locked in a new career-best series as the overall winner, but the Newton girls finished fourth as a team despite having the second-best Baker score.

Oskaloosa led Newton by 16 pins after the opening round. Waukee trailed by 91 pins but turned in a 1,026 Baker score to rally for the win. The Cardinals defeated Oskaloosa 939-906 in the Baker round to finish second.

The rest of the seven-team field included Mason City (2,727), Pella (2,607), Gilbert (2,435) and Knoxville (1,979).

Waukee rallied in Bakers with games of 237, 225 and 210. Newton opened with a 224 and Oskaloosa’s best Baker round was 203.

Coming off a career day against Knoxville, Kennedy posted two more 200-plus games and finished third in the final standings with a 460 series.

Kennedy’s individual games were 237 and 223. Swarts started his day with a career-best 257 and ended it with a 188 and placed seventh with a career-best 445 series.

Jeremiah Killmer opened with a 181 but finished with a career-best 254. His 435 series placed him ninth.

Nathan Hauber, Parker Kennedy and Ethan Valtman rounded out the varsity for the day. Hauber finished 18th with a 372 and Parker Kennedy was 19th with a 371.

Hauber posted single games of 182 and 190, while Parker Kennedy turned in a 208 and a 163. Valtman rolled single games of 169 and 183 for a 352 series.

Pella’s Alex Bishara won the individual tournament title with a 475 series. He posted single games of 227 and 248.

Mason City’s Michael Solberg-Maas was the runner-up with a 461 series.

Humphrey opened her day with a season-best 222 and finished with a 194. Her career-best 416 series won the tournament by 34 pins over Mason City’s Krysten Arnold, who was the runner-up with a 372 series. Oskaloosa’s Ava Ridenour finished third with a 367 series.

Kelly Holmes finished 18th overall with a 290 series after rolling a pair of 145s. Aeris Archer totaled a 270 series with single games of 130 and 140.

Tamika Rodenborn, Alex Schultz and Marissa Burns rounded out the varsity roster. Rodenborn (237) rolled single games of 109 and 128, Schultz (222) turned in games of 121 and 101 and Burns (219) tallied individual scores of 98 and 121.

The Waukee girls won the tournament with 2,432 pins. Mason City was the runner-up with 2,307 and Oskaloosa finished third with 2,292 pins.

Newton (2,197) took fourth followed by Pella (2,114), Knoxville (1,702) and Gilbert (1,697).

The top five teams in the girls’ standings were the same after the individual round, too. Newton’s 762 Baker score was only bested by Waukee’s 772.

Cardinals sweep Knoxville in Twin Rivers Conference matchup

OSKALOOSA — Austin Kennedy, Parker Kennedy and Carter Maki all turned in career-best single games, the Cardinals grabbed the top six spots in the standings and Humphrey cruised to the individual win on the girls’ side as the Newton bowlers swept Knoxville at Statesman Lanes on Friday.

The Newton girls (3-0) trailed after the individual round but dominated the Bakers and rallied for a 10-pin win during the Twin Rivers Conference matchup.

The Cardinals edged Knoxville 1,862 to 1,852 after a 178-point difference in the Baker round.

The Newton boys (3-0) dominated from the opening frame and downed the Panthers 2,980 to 1,985.

“One of the best things about the sport of bowling and high school sports in general is the bond these athletes make with bowlers from other schools,” Newton head bowling coach Christie Lester said. “They help each other out and cheer for each other. They make friends with bowlers all over the state and make memories that last a lifetime.

“We had the honor of witnessing this at our meet against Knoxville. (Humphrey) and (Knoxville’s) Brigette Renard shared a moment when they were frustrated. It helped tremendously.”

Austin Kennedy rolled a 231 and a career-best 268 for a career-best 499 series to win the day. Parker Kennedy turned in a career-best 244 in his opening game and finished with a career-best 437 series after a 193 in the second game.

Maki was third overall with a 368 series. He posted a career-best 209 to end his round after starting with a 159.

Hauber (355), Killmer (351) and Swarts (349) were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Hauber rolled single games of 185 and 170, Killmer had individual games of 148 and 203 and Swarts started with a 149 and ended with a 200.

Troy Binns led Knoxville (0-2) with a 345 series. His best single game was 205.

The best bowling day of Valtman’s high school career so far will go down as a JV score. He posted a 470 series after single games of 213 and 257. Jarret Sweeney had a 360 series and single games of 200 and 160.

Humphrey was the girls’ overall winner with a 368 series. She posted single-game scores of 199 and 169.

Archer was the runner-up with a 325 series after posting single games of 164 and 161.

Holmes (253), Burns (230) and Rodenborn (209) were seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. Holmes turned in single games of 124 and 129, Burns posted single games of 95 and 135 and Rodenborn collected individual games of 108 and 101.

Brigette Renaud of Knoxville (0-2) finished third with a 300 series and Nicole Schultz was one pin back in fourth.

Jessamyn Neer turned in a 220 series in the junior varsity matchup. Mackenna Burns (211) and Lina Hinds (209) also cleared 200 pins.