Blackman girls, Smyrna boys confident heading into state bowling tournament

They've been there before, but Smyrna's boys and Blackman's girls bowling teams will be hoping to bring home state championship trophies this week.

The two teams will return to the TSSAA State Bowling Tournament, which will be held Thursday-Saturday at Smyrna Bowling Center.

The Lady Blaze (16-2) will return after a 24.5-2.5 win over East Hamilton in Monday's sectional. They will take on Bartlett in the first round at noon Friday.

Blackman reached the state tournament last year before falling in the first round.

The Bulldogs (19-2) advanced with a 24-3 win over Soddy-Daisy in Monday's sectional. They will face Gatlinburg-Pittman (13-0) in the first round at 3 p.m. Friday.

Smyrna reached the state championship match a year ago before falling 14-13 to Hardin County.

Both teams feel good about their chances this season, particularly after valuable experience under their belts.

More: TSSAA boys state bowling information

More: TSSAA girls state bowling information

"I don't think there will be a lot different," said Blackman sophomore Baileigh Snow, who is also a Miss Bowler finalist after finishing the season with a 210.64 average. "We've got some new team members who have put in a lot of hard work this year."

Lady Blaze teammates Sarah Sanes (204.93) and Erika Sisk (197.40) give Blackman a dynamic 1-2-3 punch heading into the state event.

"Anything can happen in bowling," Snow said. "But I think we have a good shot."

Smyrna has been one of the top-ranked boys teams all year, and with good reason. Juniors Josh Meeke (235.86) and Xavier Powell-Short (216.31) are two of the three Mr. Bowler finalists.

"We've come together as a team and support each other well," Powell-Short said. "I feel real confident. Over the summer I practiced hard. I'm proud of where I've gotten so far."

Added Meeke, "We've definitely improved on spares. We've jelled together. We've been there for each other and have each other's backs when someone isn't having a good game."

Mr. and Miss Bowler winners will be announced Thursday at Smyrna Bowling Center.

While the team competition gets under way Friday, the individual state tournament will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with quarterfinal action. Individual action will wrap up at 9 a.m. Friday while the team championships are slated for 11:30 a.m. Saturday. 

Area girls who will be competing for a state championship (with average) include: Snow (210.64), Sanes (204.93), 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: Meeke (235.86), Blackman's Jacob Berry (218.13), 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).

Sectional highlights: Sanes rolled a 655 series to lead Blackman in the sectional. Snow rolled a 205 game while Sisk rolled games of 205 and 203.

Five Bulldogs rolled games of 220 or better in the first game of the boys sectional, including a 267 from Meeke, a 255 from Aaron Roe and 244 from Powell-Short.

Meeke finished with a 737 series while Brayden Paul added a 701.

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