By Sam Parsons

Oskaloosa’s Girls Bowling team made history last night, becoming the first full girls bowling team in school history to advance to the state tournament.

Oskaloosa hosted their state qualifying meet last night at Statesmen Lanes and earned a 2nd place finish out of 8 teams, only 11 total pins behind 1st place Keokuk. The finish was enough to send the Indians to the state tournament, as they out-bowled Clinton, Mt. Pleasant, Pella, Norwalk, Burlington, and Bondurant-Farrar as a team.

Osky head coach Tony Witt said he couldn’t be more proud of his team. “The girls started hot, shooting a 993 for the first five baker games which is a 198 average for those games. They then stayed steady for the next 10 baker games but couldn’t hold off Keokuk who had the single high baker game for the team tournament with a 268 game. The Oskaloosa girls only lost to Keokuk by 11 total pins. The girls bowled as a complete team today and supported each other and all had great attitudes today and it paid off with a trip to Team State.”

The team event was followed by the state qualifying singles competition. Two members of the Indians punched their tickets to the state individual tournament: Sidney Thompson finished 3rd with a 606 pin series, while Ava Ridenour’s 573 pins placed 6th overall.