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Artesia High bowlers complete undefeated regular season

Daily Press Staff Report

In looking to complete an undefeated run through the New Mexico High School Bowlers Association regular season, the Artesia High School bowling team entered an unprecedented five teams into the Advanced Division of the season ending tournament at Starlight Lanes in Bernalillo.

“It is a testament to our bowlers that we have twenty-two bowlers averaging over 151 in tournament play and that they all have the goal of competing at the highest level,” said head coach Ken Clayton.

With an advanced division of 16 teams set to compete, and Eldorado High having set the bar at 3,095 points in the morning, the Bulldogs had their work cut out for them. Game one of qualifying saw four-time champion Artesia No. 2 jump to the lead with a 1,047, followed by Artesia No. 1 with a 967. Game 2 had Artesia’s first team storm back with a tournament high 1,074 for a two-game total of 2,041 and a 110-pin lead over Artesia No. 2 heading into the Baker game format of the tournament.

Leading the Artesia No. 1 effort was junior Payton DeMerritt with games of 245-227 for a 472 series, followed by Senior Hagen Murph with 246-223 and his 469 series. Adding to the Artesia No. 1 scoring were Ayden Gomez 245-171-416 series, Brent McIntire 211 and Kambry Collins 182.

Artesia No. 2 scoring was led by tournament leader, Mason Jeter with games of 245 and 229 for a team leading 474 series. Brenden Depew rolled 226-169-395, Chase Collins 210-182-392, Damian Lopez 194 and Jace Miles 172 to complete the scoring for Artesia No. 2.

During the Baker games Artesia No. 1 averaged 205 for seven games including games of 323-230-226 and 211 to compile a baker total of 1441. Artesia #2 rolled baker games of 231-223-201 and 192 in averaging 190 for their seven-game block of 1335.

In what became the third one-two finish in the past three tournaments and third of the season, Artesia No. 1 brought home the tournament title and helped the Artesia High School bowling team complete a strong undefeated regular season.

Artesia No. 4 and Artesia No. 3 finished seventh and ninth respectively in a 16-team advanced division.

“The improvement of our bowlers this season was amazing”, said Clayton. We had bowlers that had never bowled before October rolling 200 games and bowling tournament games 50 pins over their average. The story of Artesia bowling goes well beyond the advanced division.”

Scoring from Starlight Lanes includes Talyn Pacheco 218-177, Ayden Huffman 203, Destiny Powell 200, Darius Mendoza 190, Maggie Morris 183, Jody Roberts 182, Axel Hartley 179-170, Adam Longoria 179, Gael Ruiz 177-169, Edwin Villarreal 172, Sophie Kitchen 168, Ayden Dean 164, Ricardo Huerta 163 and Diego Molina 154.

The Bulldog bowlers now travel to Silva Lanes in Albuquerque for the state championship tournament on Feb. 1.