Fairfield bowling sweeps Mt. Pleasant

OTTUMWA - Fairfield's winter athletics finally kicked off on Monday, and the Trojan bowling team made sure to make it count. Fairfield swept Mt. Pleasant, toppling the Panthers 2,477-2,148 in the boys standings and 2,106-1,914 in girls.

Fairfield star Chance Swan picked up right where he left off last season. Swan led all bowlers with a 466 total, over 100 pins better than every other competitor on the lanes. He rolled a 247 in his first game and a 219 in his second game. Drake Drish finished his round at 346, and Gannon Scott ended at 305, to give the Trojans three bowlers above 300.

Fairfield's Chris Kyle was just 11 pins from the 100 mark, finishing his round at 289. Wyatt Baker was close behind him with a 285, and Quint Stark bowled a 242.

Mt. Pleasant had one bowler over 300 in the boys competition. Levi Svoboda rolled a 151 in his first game and a 175 in his second game to finish out at 326. Alec Payne was just off the 300 mark with a 297 for the day.

The next Panther in order was Nola Myers, who rolled a 267. Mathew Weller rolled a 248. Cade Yaley finished at 244, and Style Haeffner rounded out Mt. Pleasant with a 226.

Fairfield bested Mt. Pleasant 786-766 in the boys baker games. The Trojans went 151, 166, 168, 146 and 155. The Panther baker games went 148, 141, 158, 187 and 131.

The Trojan girls were led by McKayla Taylor, who was the only girl over 300, at 341. She rolled a 158 in her first game and a 183 in her second.

Bailey Hird finished the day at 287 for the Trojans. Willoe Elliott was close behind her at 284. Hope Brammer rolled a 271. Airianna Taylor rolled a 262, and Karen Ehret finished at 254.

The Mt. Pleasant girls were paced by Megan Smith's 256. She rolled a 110 in her opener, and improved with a 146 in her second game. Tori Hixson rolled a 253 and Morelia Elias finished at 250 to give Mt. Pleasant three girls with 250-or-above scores.

Closely behind that trio were Addison McGehearty and Eden Svoboda. McGehearty finished her round at 246, and Svoboda closed out at 245. Danielle Muhs rounded out the Mt. Pleasant girls with a 182.

Mt. Pleasant was able to best Fairfield by three pins in the baker games. The Panthers scored 664 and the Trojans had 661.

Mt. Pleasant's girls baker games went 134, 142, 147, 109 and 132. The Trojans went 137, 147, 147, 80 and 150.

It was the first 'home” meet for Fairfield in Ottumwa, where they will host their meets at Champion Bowl for the 2020-21 season. Trojan coach Lisa Greenig says she is impressed with how her team has responded to the change.

'Our bowlers have done an amazing job adapting to a new bowling aley, synthetic lanes instead of wood, and a new format of three bowlers per lane,” Greenig said.

Mt. Pleasant head coach Jerry Courch says he hopes to see continued improvement in the Panthers' scores in upcoming meets.