By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

It’s becoming a habit.

For the third straight year, the Rootstown Rovers boys and girls varsity bowling teams captured the Portage Trail Conference bowling championships and earned the overall PTC league title.

Marching through the season undefeated, both teams also topped the leaderboard at the final bowling tournament of the PTC season on Saturday at Spins in Kent to finish their seasons undefeated.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE GIRLS

The Rootstown girls not only captured the tournament championship, they swept the medalist awards, taking the top-three series and the high game of the tournament.

Natalie Hammerschmidt rolled a 556 high series and also tossed a 206 high game to take home the top-two medals of the tournament.

Joining Hammerschmidt in the top-three series was the Rovers’ Payton Curall, rolling a 543 and Rootstown’s Elli Campbell, finishing her three-game set with a 520 series.

Coached by Andy Day, the Rovers’ team bested Lake Center Christian by 863 pins following the final frame rolled through three regular games and six Baker games.

Lake Center Christian, in the runner-up spot, received its best performance by Janet Zink (174-467).

The Pirates of Southeast finished third as Abby Smith tossed a 189-515.

Amber Kovalik pushed Warren JFK into fourth place with her 450 series that included a 189 high game.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE BOYS

The Rovers’ boys almost had a clean sweep of the tournament.

The boys captured the regular season, completing an undefeated slate and won the PTC Tournament

The Rovers’ Justin Miller rolled a solid 653 series and teammate Anthony Cambareri tossed the high game of 254.

A tie for second-high series saw Lake Center Christian make it into the top bowlers as Brant Roberts joined Rootstown’s Sean Boveington with a series of 625.

Thom Butcher, coach of the Rovers, saw his bowlers edge in front of Lake Center Christian by 276 pins for the championship.

Warren JFK landed in third place as a team for the tournament led by Aidan Bowers’ 175 high game.

NEXT UP

The teams in the PTC now look ahead to the OHSAA Sectional tournaments as they begin the hoped-for journey to Columbus and the state tournament.