Panther girls 2nd at SEC bowling meet

MT. PLEASANT — Iris Bowling Center in Mt. Pleasant was the site of the 2023 Southeast Conference bowling championship, and it was the Panther girls’ team who stood tall, taking second with a final score of 2,519.

Mt. Pleasant’s big day was led by individual conference champion Addison McGehearty, who bowled a 415 to win the meet by two pins.

“It was kind of a surprise,” McGehearty said. “I wasn't expecting it, but it was pretty cool.”

McGehearty bowled a 210 in her first game and a 205 on her second game to edge Keokuk’s Rachel Moore. She was the only non-Keokuk player in the Top 6.

“It was just going in the pocket for me,” McGehearty said. “That felt really good.”

McGehearty led the Panthers to a final team score of 2,519. Four more Panthers made the All-Conference team, as Tori Hixson rolled a 331, Kylie Alldredge finished at 319, Kya Goodrich finished at 290, and Bethany Drury ended at 289.

The Panther girls also had the best baker game of the day. Anchored by McGehearty, Mt. Pleasant shot a 237 in the third of five baker games, including eight strikes to end it.

“That second baker game, we had so many strikes in a row,” McGehearty said. “I was anchoring, and I was like, 'Oh I'm going to mess up.'”

Fairfield took fourth on the girls’ side, scoring 1,802. Washington was fifth at 1,020. Fairfield’s Rae Ehret was the only other Union area All-Conference name, after finishing ninth, with 295.

The Mt. Pleasant boys finished third on the boys’ side, tallying 1,603. That was just ahead of fourth-place Fairfield, which finished at 1,546.

The Panther boys had one All-SEC member. Alec Payne finished sixth place, at 191. Fairfield’s Ian Aplara was 11th, at 344, and the Trojans’ Chase Johnston took the last All-Conference spot with a 12th-place 243.

Washington took fifth on the boys’ side, scoring 961. In both the girls and boys competition, the Demons had just three bowlers, compared to the usual six.

GIRLS’ TEAM SCORES

1. Keokuk 2,833

2. Mt. Pleasant 2,519

3. Burlington 1,816

4. Fairfield 1,802

5. Washington 1,020

INDIVIDUAL ALL-CONFERENCE: 1. Addie McGehearty (MP) 415; 2. Rachel Moore (K) 413; Jaelynn Ketterer (K) 284; 4. Olivia Rule (K) 366; 5. Sophia Rule (K) 341; 6. Natalee Alberts (K) 338; 7. Tori Hixson (MP) 331; 8. Kylie Alldredge (MP) 319; 9. Rae Ehret (FF) 295; 10. Kya Goodrich (MP) 290; 11. Bethany Drury (MP) 289; 12. Katelyn Ott (B) 286.

BOYS’ TEAM SCORES

1. Keokuk 2,905

2. Burlington 2,780

3. Mt. Pleasant 1,603

4. Fairfield 1,546

5. Washington 961

INDIVIDUAL ALL-CONFERENCE: 1. DJ Balentine (K) 266; 2. Pray Lawson (K) 238; 3. Austin Cooper (B) 215; 4. Chase Hemann (K) 212; 5. Keaton Lair (B) 203; 6. Alec Payne (MP) 191; 7. Kassen Smith (B) 190; 8. Brayden Picton (K) 361; 9. Christian Snyder (B) 353; 10. Ian Mason (B) 188; 11. Ian Aplara (FF) 344; 12. Chase Johnston (FF) 243.