Both Boulder City bowling programs hung tough this past week, learning valuable lessons moving forward into what is hopefully another extended postseason run.
The boys remain undefeated this season, picking up victories over Sunrise Mountain and Southeast Career Technical Academy in a pair of contrasting matches.
“Against Sunrise, I was really proud of the way the boys handled themselves,” Boulder City head coach Rodney Ball said. “The Miners are an up and coming program that’s still working out their kinks. We could have easily underperformed, but I feel this year’s group is locked in on our state mentality. The SECTA match couldn’t have been any different. They came to play and so did our boys. We can be really good when we want to be.”
Dominating their way through the Miners, senior Tegan Smale and junior Samu Jancuk both bowled a 549, while junior Connor Armstrong filled in nicely for senior Dylan Amico, bowling a 519.
Junior Ed Rassuchine paced the boyswith a score of 545.
For the Lady Eagles, the girls dominated their way through Sunrise Mountain, before falling to two-time defending state champion Southeast Career Technical Academy later in the week.
Against the Miners in an easy win, junior Abgail Harling led the Lady Eagles with a series score of 492, while sophomore Bailey Jordan-Bennett bowled a 360 on the day.
Filling in for junior Alexis Cable, sophomore Camile Torgesen bowled a 377, while senior Emily Owens bowled near her average with a series score of 350.
Bowling scores weren’t available for the SECTA matchup, but coach Ball said that the Lady Eagles showed life against the Division I-A power in the third frame, winning the game by eight pins, before losing the overall match by 60 pins.
“We have a little ways to go before we can call ourselves the top,” Ball added. “SECTA is a great program, something we inspire to be, I thought the girls bowled great and showed a lot of poise.”
Resuming their season Monday against Del Sol at the Wildfire, Ball is looking for another great effort from both his clubs, in what he’s called a positive season so far.
“As coaches, It’s been very rewarding for all of us to see how far this group has progressed,” Ball concluded. “I give all the credit to both of my assistant coaches for making our kids better and helping me make that possible. We’re on our way to becoming the class of the Division I-A.”
Wrestling
The Boulder City wrestling program stared its season off in dominating fashion, carving out two victories over Division I-A opponents: Moapa Valley (51-30) and Pahrump Valley (48-30), while manhandling Division I opponent Eldorado (72-6) and Division III opponent Laughlin (78-3).
Taking care of business as a team, the Eagles powered their way through their first two opponents, before pulling together as a unit to grind out a pair of tough nonconference victories.
“I really liked the energy there this past weekend,” said assistant coach Allen Haines. “Earlier in the day we were rolling and everything was going our way and then toward the end we kind of got fatigued a little. Our backs were against the wall in our last two matches at times, but our kids don’t quit. It was nice to see everyone rally around their teammates and show encouragement. (It) was a great weekend for our program.”
Ranging throughout all different weight classes, the Eagles had multiple competitors conclude the day with 4-0 and 3-1 records during the Boulder City Duals meet.
Senior Tyler Rushworth led the group
Saturday
with a 4-0 record at the 138-pound weight class and offered an inspiring message to his teammates that will hopefully carry not only himself but his team to a state tournament appearance.
“I wrestle,” Rushworth exclaimed. “Not simply with my opponent. I wrestle with demons of doubt, with my past failures, with my exhaustion, with my injuries, with my anonymity, with that unrelenting voice that tells me to stop. But I am a wrestler and one thing will always be certain. I will be victorious.”
Victorious as well for the Eagles were juniors Jimmy Brown (126-pound weight class) and Devin Fox (195-pound weight class) and sophomores Garrett Leavitt (106-pound weight class), Zane Dennington (113-pound weight class) and D.J. Reese (120-pound weight class), who all finished a perfect 4-0
on Saturday
.
Tallying a 3-1 records
Saturday
was senior Michael Morelli (132-pound weight class) and juniors Dillon Viera (160-pound weight class) and Adam Clary (182-pound weight class).
Results from the Eagles’ trio of Wednesday matches against Durango, Chaparral and Rancho were unavailable at press time and will be in next week’s issue, as well as a breakdown of the Eagles’ trip to California for the Jimmy Hamada Invitational.
Contact Robert Vendettoli at BCRsports@gmail.com.
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Upcoming Games
Bowling
Monday, vs. Del Sol at Wildfire, 3 p.m.
Wrestling
Friday and Saturday, Hamada Invitational, La Costa Canyon, Calif.
Saturday, Cowboy Duels at Chaparral, junior varsity
Wednesday, at Sunrise Mountain, 5 p.m., junior varsity; 6 p.m., varsity