The Mechanicsburg girls bowling team won the Division II state title two years ago and advanced to the Final Four last season. Now, with an upperclassmen-heavy lineup, Mechanicsburg begins its quest for a state title Thursday at the sectional tournament at Poelking Marian Lanes in Huber Heights.
Junior Ally Hosier, who was named Ohio Heritage Conference bowler of the year last week after leading the Indians to their eighth straight league title, carries an impressive 212 average for the season. But right behind her are All-OHC senior trio Katie Bush (193 average), Lauren Mayberry (192) and Michaela Edwards (180).
The top four have not lost a league match in their careers.
“We’ve pretty much had the same girls the last three years,” said Bush. “The girls have been together for a long time, bowling together in the youth leagues. They compliment each other. If one is having a bad day, the others pick her up.”
Underclassmen Miranda Keene (152), Jenna Alspaugh (152) and Skyler Herron (150) each average about 30 pins below Edwards and fill the team’s fifth spot in the lineup, depending on who is hotter at the time.
“You could tell they were hungry to advance,“ said Bush. “The (seniors’) freshmen year, you could tell the nerves were there and they didn’t make the cut in sectionals. The last three years. the girls have been shooting scores the boys teams are hitting.”
Indeed, the ‘Burg girls won their league title with a 3,764 score, just shy of the Indians boys team’s OHC title-clinching 3,860 and more than 1,000 pins better than the second-place Southeastern girls.
Their key to success? Practice, practice, practice.
“Bowling is a repetitive sport,“ said Bush. “You have to continue to bowl to improve. These girls work pretty hard. We practice as much as we can, and then it is no surprise to see them bowling in open bowling, too.”
The Indians, 18-3 in duals this season with their three losses coming to D-I programs (Sidney, Troy and Springfield), have put Mechanicsburg on the map.
“It’s getting a lot more recognition now,” said Bush. “When the girls were out there as freshmen, they didn’t get much recognition. Some of the girls wanted that and did what they had to do to get it to the level it is now.”
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