Harlem Bowlers hold Conference Leads Going into New Year

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 There are four Harlem High School bowling teams and all four are NIC-10 leaders going into 2017, with two league matches left to play. The Varsity Boys and Girls improved to 7-0 with a pair of victories over Auburn, on Dec. 21, their last matches going into the winter break when they will face more tournaments. The Auburn match, originally scheduled for Dec. 19, was moved because of bad weather. For the Lady Huskies, Dec. 21 was a record-setting day as they amassed 4,046 pins, breaking the school’s previous high mark. So far this year Harlem’s best pin fall in NIC-10 competition has been a 3,801.

Meanwhile the Huskies defeated Auburn by 206 pins. The Knights dropped to 4-3 and now trail Harlem by three games in Boys competition.

On Dec. 15, both Harlem teams defeated Belvidere with the Lady Huskies (6-0) handing the Lady Bucs (4-2) just their second loss of the winter, 3,734 to 3,194. That match was close after the first game, with Harlem up by just 28 pins. But, the Lady Huskies took command in the second game, winning it by 1,396 to 1,025. The 1,396 total was best for the day and high for the season to this point. Sophomore Kayla Verstraete sparked the Lady Huskies against Belvidere with a personal best 709 series to go with a high game of 275. Those efforts now rank No. 5 for the season in Conference play. Another Sophomore, Becca Hagerman, continued on a roll with a three-game 683 series. She has exceeded the 600-mark in all six matches and has one of the top single games in the Conference with a 279. Other contributions came from one of two Seniors on the team, Mylee McCracken, with a 637; Junior Stephanie Richards, a 615; Senior Alexandria Buffington, a 593; and Junior Treasure Childs, a 497. Mylee also has been over 600 in all of her league matches so far. Her top series has been a 717, which included a 279 single game. Harlem bowlers recorded two personal bests in the boys win over Auburn.

Senior Dawson Jones put up a three-game 770 series, No. 1 for the day and No. 3 overall for the season. Another Senior, Collin Day, contributed a 713 series that included a new high single game of 267. Junior Kyler Gerl chipped in a 675 series; Junior Nick Howard, a 669; Senior Jake Nimtz, a 643; and Sophomore Noah Mandujano, a 574. Jake has exceeded the 600 mark in all six of his matches, with a high this season of 738. At the Junior Varsity level Harlem’s girls are alone in first place with a 6-0 record. Close behind are Freeport and Hononegah, each at 5-1, with Belvidere North at 4-2. Harlem’s boys are tied with Hononegah for the top spot, each owning a 6-0 record.