SECTION IV BOWLING: WAVERLY WINS DIVISION 2 STATE QUALIFIER; PUNCHES TICKET TO STATES (10 PHOTOS) (2024-02-25)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Owego beat Waverly twice during the regular season, but the Wolverines came up big when it mattered the most, winning the Section IV, Division 2 Boys Bowling State Qualifier, and punching their ticket to States here Saturday at the Valley Bowling Center.

The Wolverines rolled a nine-game set, including three games at last week’s Class Sectionals, of 9,598 pins to top Owego, which had a 9.512, by 86 pins. Unadilla Valley / Norwich was third with 9,198 pins, while Sidney was fourth with 9,035, Bainbridge-Guilford was fifth with 8,884 pins, and Union Springs / Port Byron was sixth with 8,622 pins.

“(Saturday) was an incredible team effort,” said Waverly coach Derek Bowman.

“We read the lanes through all of the transitions, and the boys did a great job with focus and staying positive,” he noted. “Our goal was to get to the future pair in the afternoon session. After having a really good morning, we were able to leap Unadilla Valley / Norwich and do that.

“In the afternoon, we started one pin down to Owego, who beat us twice in the regular season,” said Bowman. “The seniors really led the charge today. Dom (Wood’s) front six was a huge lift in game six.

“It was a great match between two really good teams,” he added.

Sophomore Derek Johnson, who rolled a 708 at Class Sectional games of 226, 247, and 190 in the afternoon for a nine-game set of 2,063, while sophomore Tristan Campbell shot series of 726 on games of 254, 225, and 247 in the morning, and 663 on games of 226, 227, and 210 in the afternoon for a nine-game set of 1,986.

Senior Dom Wood, rolled a 619 on games of 183, 226, and 210 in the morning, and a 675 on games of 212, 217, and 246 in the afternoon for a nine-game set f 1,902.

Senior Carter Hayes shot a 647 on games of 228, 233, and 186 during the morning session, and a 582 series in the afternoon for an 1,829 nine-game set, while senior Trenton Sindoni rolled a 671 on games of 234, 248, and 197 in the morning, and a 574, including games of 235, and 203, in the afternoon for a nine-game set of 1,818.

On the individual side, Landon Butenko of Chenango Forks won top honors with a nine-game set of 2,184, while  Maine-Endwell’s Liam Hadfield was second with a 2,159.

The sixth and final qualifier for the all-star team that will represent Section IV at the state tournament was Johnson City’s Lucas Card, who rolled a nine-game set of 2,030.

Tioga’s Nick Slater had a nine-game set of 1,782. After rolling a 660 at the Class Sectionals, Slater rolled a 565, including a 201, during the morning session, and had a 557 series, including a 213, during the afternoon.

Waverly will be in action at the Division 2 team championships March 8 at noon at the Strike N Spare Lanes in Syracuse.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.