For the second year in a row, the Le Mars Community girls bowling team leaves the state tournament in Waterloo as the Class 2A state runner-up.
The Bulldogs were coming into state after winning their state qualifying meet but feeling like they left a lot to be desired in that performance especially with how it started. Head coach Gary Brady says he challenged the girls to get off to a better start this time, and they did.
Le Mars did take a step back during their second set of baker games when they bowled a 138 on their second set of lanes. After that, the Bulldogs made a very small adjustment and rattled off games of 191, 216, 227, and 247 to take some momentum into the final set of games. Coach Brady says all the girls needed most of the day were minor tweaks here and there.
The Bulldogs finished the first set of 15 baker games with a score of 2931 and earned the top seed for the bracket portion. In that bracket portion, Le Mars jumped on their opponents quickly with three of their four games against Clinton in the semifinals going over 190. The Bulldogs also bowled three-straight 200 games to open the championship series with Keokuk. Coach Brady says doing that was huge to get a team stressing out about the remainder of the match.
After going up 2-0 in the championship series with Keokuk, the Chiefs started storming back and beat the Bulldogs in each of the final three games of the best of five series. Coach Brady says it was a perfect combination of great Keokuk bowling and very bad breaks for his girls.
The Bulldogs come away with the silver medal for the second year in a row and will graduate two seniors in Natalie Vanderloo and Bailey Gill. Coach Brady says replacing two four-year starters from an outstanding program will be difficult.
Le Mars is a very unique community in that it supports a sport like bowling that does not get all the attention of a sport like basketball or football. Coach Brady says he was very appreciative with all the support of the community who followed along with every throw.
Five Bulldog girls will bowl right away today in the Class 2A individual state tournament in Waterloo.
