Humphrey wins conference bowling title; Newton girls take third in team race

OSKALOOSA — Gabbie Humphrey got her individual series going with a career-best score and kept things rolling until she was crowned Two Rivers Conference champion on Friday.

The Newton girls bowling team finished third in the team portion of the meet, and Humphrey won her first conference title with a 634 series.

“Today was such an exciting day,” Newton head bowling coach Christie Lester said. “The girls did an amazing job and put together some great sets of Baker and individual games. I’m so proud of them.”

Oskaloosa won the team championship with a Baker score of 2,484. Each team rolled 15 Baker games at Statesmen Lanes and individual series were made up of three games.

Sigourney/Keota was the conference runner-up with a 2,337 and Newton edged Pella by 11 pins for third. The Cardinals turned in a 2,257 and Pella had a 2,246.

The rest of the field featured Norwalk (1,947), ADM (1,890), Knoxville (1,876), Bondurant-Farrar (1,844), Pella Christian (1,545), Ballard (1,336) and Gilbert (1,110).

Newton’s best Baker game was its first. The Cardinals started with a 192 and also rolled a 184, 170, 166 and 164.

Oskaloosa’s top game of 198 was its first and Sigourney/Keota had a 199.

Humphrey started her individual round by matching her career best of 236. She ended with a 212 and rolled a 186 in between. The 634 series was a personal-best for three games and she won the conference title by 40 pins.

Aeris Archer placed 10th overall with a 465 series and Kelly Holmes finished 16th with a 435. Archer had single games of 174, 180 and 111 and Holmes turned in individual games of 144, 147 and 144.

Mackenna Burns (408), Marissa Burns (384) and Jessamyn Neer (331) also made up the Cardinals’ varsity roster. Mackenna Burns opened with a 152, Marissa Burns’ best game was a 159 and Neer opened with a 130.

Sigourney/Keota’s Jayden Montgomery was the individual runner-up with a 594.

Oskaloosa’s Sidney Thompson rolled a 579 in third. The Indians posted the third, fourth, fifth and sixth best individual scores.

Notes: Humphrey was named to the all-conference first team, while Archer and Mackenna Burns were honorable mention selections. ... The boys all-conference meet was postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up on Friday. ... The Cardinals will attempt to qualify for the state tournament on Monday and Tuesday at Cardinal Lanes. The girls will bowl in regionals starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, while the boys compete in districts at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.