By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The Rootstown girls bowling team are making it a habit to have great bowling seasons.

This year is no different.

After a solid regular season, the Rovers started on the tournament trail toward the state tournament — a place that has become a home-away-from home for the program.

And it still is.

The Andy Day coached team traveled to Rebman Lanes in Lorain for the OHSAA Division II District Tournament and, again, for the third straight year, rolled their way to a spot at the state tournament in Columbus next weekend.

“I am super proud of the girls today,” said Day. “Our biggest problem this season has been starting slow. Today, we came out and shot two 800 games to start. Then we averaged 174 in Bakers, which is huge since they had been lower scores in the last few tournaments.

“It was definitely a total team effort. Every one of them contributed between the regular games and Bakers,” Day added.

The team was led by senior Kaitlyn Hammerschmidt, who fired a high game of 223 on her way to a 540 series, good for eighth place as an individual.

The consistency of the team continued as junior Nina Gill shot a 182-475, junior Olivia Davies rolled a 168-463 and senior Anna Drago tossed a 159-451. Rounding out the Rovers girls competing in the tournament were freshman Charlotte Simkanin, who rolled games of 175-and 189 and senior Valeri Derteen a 123.

The team combined for the six Baker games that included a 194 and a 210.

“Going in, we talked about if we shoot 3,400, we’re in and we did just that,” Day said. “What’s nice is six out of the seven girls were there last season — so fingers crossed.”

The team finished in third place among the top-four qualifiers and fired 3,471 total, just what they knew they needed and only 39 pins shy of champion Fairport Harbor Harding.

Day offered, “Not just happy we made it, we are looking to compete for our first state title.”

This team, with their success on the lanes, certainly has the opportunity to do that in Columbus.

DISTRICT QUALIFIERS

Garfield also qualified for the district tournament, but fell short of advancing to the state.

The G-Men finished in eighth place, 255 pins short of the fourth place to qualify. Garfield’s best was rolled by junior Sierra Foy, a 178-488.

Junior Joy Justice 170-470 and freshman Isabella Wright 160-451.

Ravenna’s Zoey Lemasters, also District qualifier shot a 455 series with a 171 high game, short of the 550 needed to advance to state.

GIRLS BOWLING SCOREBOARD

OHSAA DIVISION II NORTHEAST DISTRICT

(At Rebman Lanes, Lorain)

Top-four teams and four individuals not on qualifying teams advance to the OHSAA D2 State Tournament.

TOP FOUR QUALIFYING TEAMS: Fairport Harding 3,512; East Canton 3,489; Rootstown 3,473; Open Door Christian 3,352.

8^TH Garfield 3,097

INDIVIDUAL HIGH SERIES: Lauren McKinney, Fairport Harding 648.

FOUR QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS: Keira Phillips, Oberlin 598; Katie Smith, Firelands 582; Maddie Marshall, Struthers 558; Savannah Starcher, Triway 550.

43^rd Zoey Lemasters, Ravenna 455.

ROOTSTOWN (3,473): Nina Gill 475, Anna Drago 451, Valerie Derteen 123, Olivia Davies 463, Kaitlyn Hammerschmidt 540, Charlotte Simkanin 175-189.

GARFIELD (3,097): Makenna Guyette 398, Isabella Wright 451, Sierra Foy 488, Joy Justice 470, Alexis Phillips 125, Sub games 101-120.