Blackman girls, Smyrna boys win region bowling titles; Oakland girls in sectional

Three area bowling teams will be competing in sectionals Saturday and Monday with a berth at the TSSAA State Bowling Tournament on the line.

Meanwhile several Murfreesboro area bowlers have already punched tickets to the individual state tournament.

Blackman's girls and Smyrna's boys captured Region 4 championships earlier this week, and Oakland's girls will also be competing in sectional play.

The Lady Blaze will play host to East Hamilton on Monday at 1 p.m. at Smyrna Bowling Center in a sectional. Oakland is scheduled to travel to Walker Valley on Saturday.

Smyrna will play host to Soddy-Daisy on Monday at 1 p.m. at Smyrna Bowling Center in the boys sectional.

Blackman knocked off rival Oakland 21-6 in the region girls final after both cruised through the region semis to earn sectional berths. The Lady Blaze rolled past Columbia 23-4 while the Lady Patriots had no problems with Tullahoma, winning 20-7.

In the final, Sarah Sanes had a big match for the Lady Blaze, rolling a 647 series. Erika Sisk added a 602 series. Alissa Campbell paced Oakland with a 558 series, including a high game of 225.

Sisk's 646 series led Blackman in its semifinals win. Teammates Sophia Domico (166) and Janida Chindavanh (144) both rolled career-high games in the match.

"We have been up against some tough competition in both district and regionals, but my ladies have risen in each to meet the challenge, and I expect them to continue to do so," said Blackman coach Michele Giacobbi.

Smyrna's  boys downed Tullahoma 16-11 in the Region 4 boys final as five of the six bowlers fired 600-plus series.

Josh Meeke shot a 679 to lead the Bulldogs while Blake Evans added a 643, Xavier Powell-Short a 642, Brayden Paul a 627 and Justin Shull a 625.

Meeke fired a 300 game in the team's 22-5 semifinal win over Columbia. He shot a 510 in just two games, sitting out the third after the team had clinched the victory.

"I have been blessed to coach such a fine group of athletes," said Smyrna coach Carl Syler. "When the bowlers are focused they are hard to beat. They have done a great job at really being a team and bringing each other up."

Tullahoma eliminated Riverdale 19-8 in the semifinals.

The TSSAA State Bowling Tournament will be held Jan. 18-20 at Smyrna Bowling Center.

Several area bowlers will be competing in the individual state tournament.

Six of the top 12 girls averages in the state and five of the top 13 boys are area bowlers.

Area girls who will be competing for a state championship (with average) include: Blackman's Baileigh Snow (210.64), Blackman's Sarah Sanes (204.93), Blackman's Erika Sisk (197.40), Siegel's Haleigh Lawwell (194.59), Stewarts Creek's Ashlyn Barkdull (193.84), Siegel's defending state champ Danielle Jedlicki (192.35), Smyrna's Erica Atwood (175.93) and Oakland's Alexis Campbell (166.79).

Area boys who will be competing for a state championship include: Smyrna's Josh Meeke (235.86), Blackman's Jacob Berry (218.13), Smyrna's Xavier Powell-Short (216.31), Riverdale's Donovan Vincent (215.66), Blackman's Ryley Perez (213.54), Riverdale's Noah White (209.28), Smyrna's Blake Evans (205.80), Stewarts Creek's Trenton Lawson (204.25), Riverdale's Matthew Charlton (200.63) and Riverdale's Spencer Perry (200.63).

The Individual state matches will be Thursday and Friday. 

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