[Bowling] RACERS SHINE IN BUCKEYE BAKER

The Racer bowlers had a very successful entry into the second part of their season with a brilliant performance in the Ohio State University Buckeye Baker event in Columbus.

 

          For those of you who are new to the baker game format, it calls for all five team members to roll as one. The leadoff bowler rolls frames one and six of a game, the second bowler rolls and frames two and seven and so forth through the five-member rotation. When it works it is a special bowling moment. It is the very definition of team over individual.

This past weekend it worked well for our two varsity squads. The men and the women each finished in eighth spot in the qualifying round of a very competitive field. Each rolled against a very imposing Notre Dame team in a best two out of three format.

 

          The young ladies battled hard but fell to the top seed in their match. The match with Notre Dame must have weakened them a touch as they then lost their second match to Adrian College who was seeded fifth coming out of the qualifying round. Urbana, seeded second ran the gauntlet defeating Ohio State and Indiana Tech prior to the championship match with Adrian.

 

          The gentlemen of UNOH would really push the envelope in the tournament demonstrating that they are making strides this bowling season. as mentioned they opened with Notre Dame the top seed, and then were able to handle Rochester Institute of Technology in round two.

 

          This set the Racers up for a return engagement with Urbana, one of the better teams in the Midwest if not the country. The match took some back to the semi-finals of last years Racer Classic and this match had some of that same flavor.

 

          There was not a ninth and tenth frame roll-off in this one but it go the distance with Urbana taking the gold on this day as well.

         

          What is important for this weekend is that each UNOH team appears to be turning the corner.

 

          Carl Keysor has returned to the coaches pit, succeeding Taylor Booth who has resigned to focus more on his full time job away from campus. He has returned to the roll of Ladies coach. Brian Van Meter has again moved over to work with the men.

 

          When Van Meter was asked if he was pleased with the progress of the teams, he was guarded but seemingly pleased with their progress stressing that he feels that each team should be competitive by the time they go to sectionals in late February at a site to yet be determined.

 

          I have to agree with the coach as each of the teams has solid senior leadership … have we seen a glimpse this past weekend of what could be coming our way?

 

          Time will tell!!!!