ARTESIA — The Artesia High School bowling team thrived competing in front of a packed house for the recent Artesia Bulldog Bowling Invitational, winning the championship in both the Advanced and Novice divisions.
With the bleachers packed and pins flying, the Artesia Advanced #1 team rolled fiveman team games of 1,104 and 1,084 to set a school-record 2,188 two-game qualifying score.
Artesia #1 then added 1,420 for seven Baker games, including games of 266, 223 and 216. Combining the qualifying games and the Baker game score gave the Bulldogs a tournament total 3,608, which tied the school record set by the same team last season.
Leading the Bulldog charge was sophomore Justin Weddige with scores of 268 and 231 for a two-game total of 499, averaging 250 for the day. Following Weddige were Alex Harmon, 266-218, Ethan Velo, 233-202, Coy Moorhead, 216-187, and Will Davis, 198.
The Bulldog Novice team of Kaden Sallee, 196-182, Quinn Tilton, 210, Kamryn Kelsey, 221, Samantha Boebert, 193, and Jeremiah Gonzales, 156, won the Novice Division championship by a whopping 207 pins, setting school novice records of qualifying games and total score.
The AHS Advanced team #2, captured their second runner-up finish of the season and were paced by Joah James with games of 235-188, TJ Thalman, 200-191, Tyler Jeter, 215, Aaron Davis, 183, and Xavier Ybarra, 178. Additional Artesia High scoring performances in the Bulldog Invitational included Caden Brown, 210-192, Lillynn Lewis, 189, Miguel Gallegos, 184, Logan McNeely, 178, Caeden Pearson, 199, Ian Dodge, 194, and Mady Pollard, 181.
“I am so proud of this Bulldog bowling team,”
said coach Ken Clayton. “To set multiple school records in front of a home crowd that filled the bowling center all day was special. To perform at home and set multiple records gives these young people a confidence that you can’t teach.
“I want to thank everyone that had a part in another great tournament. The coaches, parents, sponsors and Artesia Lanes work hard to make our tournament a great competition but more importantly allow an experience that the 200 kids bowling each year take home with them, feeling that each of them had a great day.
I would also like to thank the Artesia High School administrators, teachers and coaches that attended the Bulldog Invitational. These bowlers may not show it, but I assure you they knew you were there and they appreciated it very much
