NY STATE BOWLING: TIOGA'S POND MAKES STATE DEBUT (6 PHOTOS) (2019-03-09)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
SYRACUSE - Tioga's Kolton Pond achieved his goal. Now he has two more years to try and repeat the feat - and maybe even climb up the standings.

Only a sophomore, Pond made his debut for Section IV in the Division II Composite tournament at the 2019 Boys NYSPHSAA State Bowling Championships at AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes here Saturday.
"I bowled OK for my first time here," he said. "I accomplished a goal, getting here. That was my goal."

Not only did he make it to states and get a chance to compete, but he finished tied for the second best six-game score on the team. That's not too shabby for the bowler who claimed the sixth and final competing spot on the section's "all-star" team at the state qualifier.

Pond and Mitchell Hamel from Union Springs / Port Byron both posted 1128 over six games, good for a 188 average and 41st place in the 66-bowler field.

The sophomore opened the day with a 158, then soared to a 234, his high game of the day. He ended the first session with a 211 for a 603 series. His second series included games of 182, 171 and 172 for a 525 series.

"It was fun, tough, but I had a lot of fun," Pond said.

Section IV placed eighth in the 11-team field with six bowlers combining for a six-game score of 5854. Newark Valley's Kyle Pratt led Section IV with an 1286.

Section I repeated as champion with a 6483. Section I's Nick Perrone was the top individual with a 1378.

"We did pretty well," Pond said. "We all helped each other and we stuck as a team. We're like a family."