Meet the 2017-18 Daily News Journal all-area boys bowling team

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Smyrna bowlers (l-r) Xavier Powell-Short, Josh Meeke and Blake Evans are all members of the all-area boys bowling team. Meeke and Powell-Short are finalists for boys bowler of the year.

It's safe to say the Murfreesboro area had a big impact on the state bowling tournament.

Not only did Smyrna's boys reach the state team semifinals, but four of the six individuals who reached the individual tournament championship round were from the area.

Three of those — Blackman's Jacob Berry and Smyrna's Josh Meeke and Xavier Powell-Short — are finalists for the Daily News Journal's all-area boys bowler of the year award.

Berry finished fifth in the state after a 218 average during the regular season.

Meeke, who led area bowlers with a 235.8 average, finished fourth in the state. Teammate Powell-Short finished as runner-up in the state after a 216.3 average heading into the state tournament.

The all-area boys bowler of the year will be announced at an all-sports ceremony in May.

The 2017-18 all-area boys bowling team includes:

FIRST TEAM

Blackman's Jacob Berry.

Jacob Berry

Blackman, So.

Why chosen: Averaged 218.13 during the season and reached the finals of the TSSAA State Bowling Individual Tournament, finishing fifth overall.

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Smyrna's Blake Evans.

Blake Evans

Smyrna, Jr.

Why chosen: Averaged 205.8 during the season and reached the finals of the state individual tournament, placing sixth overall. Helped lead Smyrna to the state team semifinals.

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Smyrna's Josh Meeke.

Josh Meeke

Smyrna, Jr.

Why chosen: Averaged 235.8 during the season and reached the finals of the state individual tournament, finishing fourth overall. Helped lead Smyrna to the state team semifinals.

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Blackman's Ryley Perez.

Ryley Perez

Blackman, Jr.

Why chosen: Averaged 213.54 during the season and reached the state individual tournament quarterfinals.

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Smyrna's Xavier Powell-Short

Xavier Powell-Short

Smyrna, Jr.

Why chosen: Averaged 216.31 during the season and reached the finals of the state individual tournament, finishing state runner-up. Helped lead Smyrna to the state team semifinals.

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Donovan Vincent

Riverdale, So.

Why chosen: Averaged 215.66 during the season and reached the semifinals of the state bowling individual tournament.

SECOND TEAM

Matthew Charlton, Riverdale, Sr.

Trenton Lawson, Stewarts Creek, So.

Braydon Paul, Smyrna, Sr.

Spencer Perry, Riverdale, Sr.

Andrew Shattuck, Oakland, Jr.

Noah White, Riverdale, Jr.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Carl Syler

Smyrna

Why chosen: Guided the Bulldogs to the state semifinals after winning the District 7 and Region 4 titles.