The 2023-24 Rootstown High School girls bowling team.

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The Rootstown Rovers varsity girls bowling team bowled their way to the fourth and final team qualifying spot at the OHSAA Division II District on Saturday.

Rootstown rolled a 3,616 series that was only 18 pins shy of third place and 182 pins short of the championship.

The outstanding bowling qualified the Rovers for the first team in school history to advance to the state championships.

Natalie Hammerschmidt led the way for Rootstown with a 559 series, which included two games in the 190s. The 2023 state qualifier, Payton Curall, rolled a 176 game on her way to a two-game set of 378. The Rovers were consistent throughout the tournament.

Also qualifying through the northeast district to the state championship was Garfield freshman Sierra Foy, tossing a 592, including a 217 high game.

The OHSAA Division II girls state championships are scheduled to compete at H.P. Lanes in Columbus on March 2.

GIRLS BOWLING SCOREBOARD

OHSAA DIVISION II DISTRICT

(At Rebman Recreation, Lorain)

TEAM QUALIFIERS TO STATE: Struthers 3,798; Triway 3,683; Fairport Harding 3,634; Rootstown 3,616.

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS TO STATE: Shelby Childers, Wickliffe 653; Gabriella Riba, Open Door Christian 609; Sierra Foy, Garfield 592; Whitney Kirchner, Wellington 575.

TEAM STANDINGS: Struthers 3,798; Triway 3,683; Fairport Harding 3,634; Rootstown 3,616; LaBrae 3,485; Garfield 3,445; Firelands 3,402; East Canton 3,379; Open Door Christian 3,369; Edgewood 3,210; Wickliffe 3,163; Wellington 2,919; Lakeview 2,865; Elyria Catholic 2,851; Crestview 2842.

ROOTSTOWN (3,616): Natalie Hammerschmidt 199-169-191 559, Elli Campbell 168, Emma Day 181-154 335, Payton Curall 152-176 378, Kaitlyn Hammerschmidt 210-149 359, Mal Butcher 186, Sub game _ 167-127-166-130. GAMES: 867-836-822 2,525; BAKER: 190-171-150-179-210-191 1,091.

GARFIELD (3,445): Kim Bowers 135-150-118 403, Haley Thompson 165-191-163 519, Sierra Foy 194-181-217 592, Joy Justice 183-160-159 502, Makenna Guyette 115-158-168 441. GAMES: 792-840-825 2,457; BAKER: 136-169-203-176-156-148 988.

RAVENNA (Individual): Alannah Raffa 191-162-152 505.

SOUTHEAST (Individual): Abby Smith 101-123-176 400.