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HIGH SCHOOL

Smyrna boys bowlers have sights set on state title

Cecil Joyce
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Last season the Smyrna boys bowling team entered the Division I state finals unbeaten, only to fall to four-time defending state champs Columbia Central.

The Bulldogs again enter this year's TSSAA State Bowling Tournament undefeated and have high expectations of capturing their fifth state championship.

Smyrna's boys bowling team includes (front row l-r) Austin Martin, Justin Shull, Collin Heath, Blake Evans, Zachary Taylor, (back row, l-r) Coach Kelly Marlin, Aaron Roe, Xavier Powell-Short, Josh Meeke, Justin Lee, Braydon Paul and Coach Carl Syler.

Columbia has already been eliminated, thanks to Smyrna in the Region 4 semifinals. However, the field is still as tough as ever.

"Anything can happen," said Smyrna senior Justin Lee. "There are still a lot of good teams."

Smyrna enters the state tourney,held at Smyrna Bowling Center, with a 22-0 record, having defeated Rhea County in Monday's sectional. The Bulldogs will compete in a Bakers Match to determine team seeding Friday afternoon, with the boys state quarterfinals beginning at 2 p.m.

The semifinals will be held Saturday at 9 a.m., with the finals set for 11 a.m.

The tournament kicks off Thursday with the individual state tournament. Three Bulldogs - Lee, Josh Meeke and Justin Shull - will all be competing beginning at 8:30 a.m. with quarterfinal matches and 3:30 semifinal round.

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"It's ridiculous how much we've improved (as a team) from May until now," said Meeke, the team's top bowler with a 226 average. He finished third in last year's individual tournament.

Lee averages 212 and Shull 204. Balance has been a key to the Bulldogs' unbeaten season thus far.

"If someone is slacking, we know others will be able to pick him up," Meeke said.

Other area individuals competing in the tournament include Riverdale's Elijah Avery, Donovan Vincent and Spencer Perry, Blackman's Jacob Berry, Stewarts Creek's Cameron Hall, Casey Mitchell and Chase Lawson, Oakland's Andrew Shattuck and Siegel's Hunter Whitaker.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.