By STEVE THOMPSON
Fontanelle Observer
First-year head coach Phyllis Sackett will have a lot of talented bowlers returning this year.
The girls lost all-state pick Rachel Bruns to graduation, but they will lean on second team all-district pick Kyra Evans. Sackett will also return the services of honorable mention picks Payton Armstrong and Brenna Bruns.
Evans tallied 2486 pins a year ago, good for a 113 game average and a 226 series average.
Armstrong had 2487 pins on the year and a 113 game average and a 228 series average.
Bruns totaled 2321 pins, good for a 105 game average and a 211 series average.
The Wolverines also return Jennifer Clarke, 1566 pins; Natalie Daugard, 800 pins and Courtney Gross, 579 pins.
Sackett will also have the services of newcomers Abby Christensen and Morgan Brown.
“We should be alright on the girls side,” said Sackett. “I think we can be pretty competitive.”
District returnees:
Lenox- Hannah Davis (2765 pins); Gabrielle Hogue (2431 pins); Sam Trost (2252 pins).
Mt. Ayr- Mercedez Birkenholz (2623 pins); Kaitlyn Dolecheck (2971 pins).
Lamoni- Faye Bland (2272 pins).
Clarke- Kacie Shieler (3559 pins); Landi Helgevold (3233 pins); Layle Carney (2759 pins).
Sackett inherits a strong boys’ team that includes first team all-district picks Brycen Wallace and Alex Brown. Wallace totaled 3137 pins, good for a 142 game average and a 285 series average. Brown had 3097 pins, a 140 game average and a 281 series average.
NV also returns second team picks Daniel Jorgensen and Austin Lundy. Lundy had 2705 pins, a 123 game average and a 245 series average. Jorgensen totaled 2476 pins, good for a 123 game average and a 247 series average.
Honorable mention picks returning are Skyler Rawlings and Tanner Ellis. Rawlings had 2044 pins, a 113 game average and a 227 series average. Ellis accounted for 1978 pins, a 123 game average and a 247 series average.
Others vying for lane time include Hunter Ellis, Colton Gross and John Clarke.
“The boys should be very strong for us this year,” said Sackett.
District returnees:
Lenox- Carlos Gonzalez (2896 pins); Doug McClain (2766 pins); Bret Myers (2372 pins).
Mt. Ayr- Avery Conn (3205 pins); Logan Eaton (3033 pins); Connor Swank (2748 pins).
Lamoni- Cooper Runney (2022 pins).
Clarke- Brock Bucy (4016 pins); TJ Woods (3714 pins); Andrew Gaytan (3423 pins).
