Hamilton’s Arvin secures state bowling berth

For more than three hours, Hamilton High School senior Kaylee Arvin waited and worried.

The state tournament was a possibility, but it wouldn’t be a certainty until the team portion of the Division I district tournament was complete.

Arvin, the only Big Blue bowler at the tournament, competed as an individual Thursday morning and posted a 577 series, finishing ninth overall. But with only the top six from non-state-tournament-qualifying teams advancing, she was on the bubble.

Only one person was more nervous than Arvin, and that was her dad Nick, who also coaches the team. He could be spotted pacing the concourse during Baker play.

“I’m more nervous for this than for any tournament cut I’ve ever had,” Nick said.

It was worth the wait as Kaylee secured the fourth individual state berth at Beaver-Vu Bowl after the completion of the team competition. According to the Hamilton athletic department, she is the first female bowler in school history to qualify to state.

It didn’t look promising early as Kaylee’s nerves got the better of her and she was open on her first four frames of the day. Dad helped her settle down, and she recovered for a 169. She improved steadily from there with a 197 and 211, finishing two pins shy of the all-tournament team.

Father and daughter had plenty to celebrate, and they weren’t the only ones.

“My whole family bowls — my mom and dad, grandma and grandpa on both sides of the family,” Kaylee said. “I’ve bowled since I was 3.”

While Nick has 40 300 games to his credit, Kaylee earned her share of the family bragging rights as the first state qualifier.

A Warriors first: Just one day after senior Tanner Roark became the second Lebanon boy to qualify to the state bowling tournament, teammate Mia Kordowski became the first girl. The junior's 570 series helped her secure the fifth of six individual state berths Thursday.

“I never thought this would happen,” Kordowski said, smiling. “I was so bad my freshman year.”

The Warriors junior has boosted her average by close to 50 pins since her first season and is averaging 180 this year.

Girls rule: Not only did Troy junior Jenna Stone beat all the girls at the D-I district tournament Thursday, her 694 series also bested all the boys who competed Wednesday. Second-place finisher Brittany-Ann O'Connell of Beavercreek — with a 684 series — also topped boys district champion Alex Rieger of Oak Hills by 40 pins.


Southwest District All-Tournament Team

1. Jenna Stone, Troy 694

2. Brittany-Ann O’Connell, Beavercreek 684

3. Alexandria Mann, Stebbins 607

4. Anna Borek, Fairmont 606

5. Courtney Chaffin, Glen Este 591

6. Heather Gold, Sidney 586

7. Abigail Blacklidge, St. Ursula 585

8. Becca Helke, Butler 579

Girls D-I District Tournament

State qualifiers

At Beaver-Vu Bowl

Teams

1. Fairmont 3,840

2. Beavercreek 3,820

3. Centerville 3,618

4. Troy 3,603

5. Bellefontaine 3,546

6. Glen Este 3,513

Individuals

Alexandria Mann, Stebbins 607

Heather Gold, Sidney 586

Abigail Blacklidge, St. Ursula 585

Kaylee Arvin, Hamilton 577

Mia Kordowski, Lebanon 570

Crissy Journell, Miamisburg 563

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