The Ankeny girls’ bowling team is on pace to have the best season in school history.
The Hawkettes remained unbeaten on Thursday by defeating visiting Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference dual meet at B-Roll Bowling. They won by a score of 2,017 to 1,965 to raise their records to 5-0 in the league and 7-0 overall.
“This meet was very competitive between us and SEP,” said Ankeny coach Nick Payton. “All of our teams battled. The varsity girls shot the highest baker game score ever with a 212.”
Ankeny won on its Senior Night, though, despite posting a season-low overall score. The 52-pin margin was also the team’s closest victory of the year.
“We were fairly confident we could beat them, but they did give us a pretty good fight,” said Ankeny junior Olivia Harris. “We were all motivated to make our last home meet with our seniors the best one yet!”
With two dual meets remaining next week, Ankeny could finish undefeated for the first time in program history. The team’s best seasons ever came in 2010-11 and 2011-12 under former coach Mike Mullins, who guided the Hawkettes to back-to-back records of 9-2 and 10-1.
Savannah Dye led Ankeny with a 289 series, her best of the year. She also bowled a career-best high game of 189.
Dye was honored along with fellow seniors Kali Ogg and Johanna Shaw. Shaw bowled a 287 total, Harris had a 281, Ogg rolled a 229, Brooklyn Dietz had a 228, and Ava Johnson added a 184.
“Savannah has improved a lot over this season and last,” Payton said. “Kali and Olivia showed great leadership as returners from last season, and Johanna is a newcomer who has been consistent for us this season. The commitment to excellence and consistency continues to help us as a team improve each week.”
Arielle Bowers had a 332 series for the Rams, who dropped to 5-3 overall.
The Ankeny boys’ squad, meanwhile, lost to Southeast Polk by a score of 2,344 to 2,099. The Hawks’ records dropped to 0-5 and 0-7.
Sebastian Cook led Ankeny with a 321 series. George Inman had a 320 total, Joel Hansen had a 296, Preston Carr bowled a 245, and Anders Peck finished with a 178.
Nick Gerhart bowled a 375 series to lead the Southeast Polk boys, who are now 7-1 on the season.
“This season has been positive as all of our bowling teams–both varsity and JV–have improved,” Payton said. “The varsity girls battled and displayed all of the team pillars we stand for on our bowling team, which is being coachable, having positive attitude/character, and battling through adversity. That propelled them to win in a tight match.”
Ankeny will face Des Moines Roosevelt in a non-conference dual meet on Tuesday at Air Lanes. The Roosevelt boys and girls are 4-4 and 3-5, respectively.