:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/267BYSN2NRC2FPNJ2RYR4MG4H4.jpg)
An up-and-down season where Creston bowling had no true home meet officially came to a close Monday night at the Panthers’ end of the season banquet.
Awards, laughs and snacks were shared in the conference room of Creston’s Supertel Inn and Conference Center. Panther bowling head coach Ron Pendegraft opened the banquet with comments about the loss of alley at Pine Valley and how other venues helped keep the season alive.
“This year was tough,” said Pendegraft. “With the loss of being able to bowl at Pine Valley, we had to resort to using the old Panther Lanes and driving to Osceola. Thanks to them, they were accommodating, and they did a good job of letting us come in and (bowl).”
Pendegraft went on to recap a season that saw the Panthers make a run on the girls side in the Regional tournament, going up against state-ranked Vinton-Shellsburg, eventually coming out of the meet with one state qualifier.
The lone qualifier, Kally Buchett, beat eventual Class 1A champion Christina Harrelson in regionals. Burchett received certificates Monday night for first-team all-conference from the Hawkeye 10 and a plaque commemorating her state season after finishing the season 49th in Class 1A.
The senior had 2,159 pins tallied with a high game of 180 for the season. Her high series was 329. Pendegraft admitted he wasn’t quite sure where Burchett’s season was taking her, but was satisfied to see her “flip a switch” in the second half and make a postseason run.
“This year, there was a point in the season where I was kind of wondering about where (she) was going to go. I don’t know what happened,” said Pendegraft. “The switch flipped and the last half of the season she was pretty much on fire. She did really well at conference and at regionals and it’s good to have that happen to someone like that.”
Receiving honors for all-district Western Iowa was Halle Orr, another integral part of the girls’ starting lineup.
Orr was a leader in high game (244) and high series (403), and was named as half of the “Twin Towers” group by Pendegraft for her staple on the team. She received a certificate of honors from the program for leading the team in the aforementioned categories.
The other half of the “Twin Towers” was Mason Clayton, who was recognized as the season’s pin leader with 3,342. She was also awarded for the high average score on the team (151.9 pins per 22 games)
“I was happy to see they both got second team all-district,” said Pendegraft. “They deserve it. ... They are our top two (girls) of the year, as far as individual awards go.”
On the boys side, the high game award went to Aaron Pettit with a 234. He also cleaned up awards for total pins with 3,290 and high series of 370. Nate Wells was awarded for the high season average with 150.9 in 16 games played.
Closing the night with senior awards, each outgoing senior was awarded a black pin, split down the middle, which was signed by teammates and coaches.
Seniors who received the pins were Adam Pettit, Aaron Pettit, Nate Wells, Dallis Perkins, Kally Burhcett and Katie Buchanan.
After handing out the final awards Pendegraft opened the floor for his players to share fun stories from the past season, brining a laugh from nearly everyone in the room as the team sat together for the last time this season with spring sports now kicking off.
With a “fun” group of kids both remaining and leaving, Pendegraft hinted at the desire to not let the team disband despite the issues with finding a home venue. Pendegraft pointed out that while there are other options of bowling at home available, he’s going to make sure there’s a program next year for Creston.
“As far as I know for next year, it’s still up in the air. We’re still trying to get this all sorted out and figured out so we’ll have a home place. But either way, we’re still going to bowl next year. I will make sure of that. ... I will do everything in my power to make sure we have another program next year.”
Awards
Letters of participation – Peyton Gordon, Jr.; Jenna Orr, Fr,; Paytin Smith, Fr.; Hope Woods, Fr.; Drake Rehmeyer, Fr.
Varsity letterwinners – Mica Andreason, So.; Mason Clayton, Jr.; Allyah Fry, So.; Halle Orr, Sr.; Jessica Peddycoart, Jr.; Katie Buchanan, Sr.; Kally Burchett, Sr.; Diego Rivas, Fr.; Cash Abildtrup, Fr.; Luke McElwain, So.; Dallis Perkins, Sr.; Aaron Pettit, Sr.; Adam Pettit, Sr.; Nate Wells, Sr.
All-Hawkeye 10 Conference – Kally Burchett (first-team).
All-district Western Iowa – Halle Orr and Mason Clayton (each second-team).
State qualifying award – Kally Burchett (49th place).
Total pins – Girls: Mason Clayton (3,342); Boys:
High game – Girls: Halle Orr (244); Boys:
High series – Girls: Halle Orr (403); Boys:
High average – Girls: Mason Clayton (151.9); Boys: Nate Wells (150.9)