Seniors capture first TSSAA state individual bowling championships

SMYRNA — Smyrna senior Josh Meeke and Hardin County senior Faith Welch were no strangers to the TSSAA state individual bowling finals.

Both had reached the ladder-formatted final six each of their first three years of high school.

Friday morning, the two garnered their first individual state titles.

Meeke knocked off White House's Jacob Watts (235-196) in the Division I boys championship match while Welch defeated sophomore teammate Kailee Channell (221-214) in the girls championship match.

Friendship Christian swept the Division II championships, with Lady Commander Olivia Van Hooser defeating St. Anges' Emily Wilson (199-128) and senior Dalton Karstens beating Notre Dame's C.J. Petrin (210-207) in the title match.

Meeke had been to the ladder round in his previous three seasons at Smyrna, with a third place finish as his previous best.

"During the offseason, I doubled the work and practice," said Meeke, who was the No. 4 seed. Watts was the No. 1 seed. "I was a lot more comfortable this year."

The two Hardin County girls were the top two seeds in the DI finals, guaranteeing the team's third state champion (Megan Alcott 2007, former All-American Ashley Channell 2014-16).

"I knew Kailee would be ready to go, just like her sister (Ashley)," said Welch, the No. 1 seed and an Arkansas State commitment. "She'll probably get it next year. Knowing this was my last year, it was a big deal (to win the title)."

Karstens had been to the state individual tournament three previous times but had never reached the finals until this year. He made the most of the opportunity.

"I think I worked better (under pressure)," said Karstens, who didn't close out the tight match until the final frame. "When the time came, I knew I had to have it. I'm blessed. This couldn't be (bigger)."

Unlike the other three winners, Van Hooser is a newcomer to state action. The 8th grader has started what she hopes is a five-year string of state titles.

"I go to a lot of big (national) tournaments, so this wasn't really my first rodeo," said Van Hooser, the No. 1 seed. "But I didn't know much about (Wilson), so I was a little nervous. I was also nervous having to wait (on a bye into the finals) until they got to me."

Team quarterfinals were played Friday afternoon, with semifinals (beginning at 10:30 a.m.) and championship matches set for Saturday.

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

Division I boys finals

Phillip Rogers (Rhea Co.) def. Austin Humphreys (Knox Catholic) 208-178; Josh Meeke (Smyrna) def. Rogers 226-207; Meeke def. Ben Harmon (Hardin Co.) 219-198; Meeke def. Trevor Brady (Santa Fe) 261-205; Meeke def. Jacob Watts (White House) 235-196.

Division I girls finals

Natily Haro (Walker Valley) def. Jada Horn (Germantown) 205-192; Haro def. Danielle Jedlicki (Siegel) 236-201; Haro def. Baylee Shipley (Rhea Co.) 198-157; Kailee Channell (Hardin Co.) def. Haro 221-151; Faith Welch (Hardin Co.) def. Channell 221-214.

Division II boys finals

Tony Craig (Christian Bros.) def. Palmer James (Christian Bros.) 200-152; Jett Hieronymus (McCallie) def. Craig 171-137; Andrew Haun (McCallie) def. Hieronymus 200-168; C.J. Petrin (Notre Dame) def. Haun 223-191; Dalton Karstens (Friendship Christian) def. Petrin 210-207.

Division II girls finals

Cassie Cottrell (Friendship Christian) def. Maddie Yates (Lipscomb Acad.) 216-141; Emily Wilson (St. Agnes) def. Cottrell 166-154; Wilson def. Kaelyn Thomas (Donelson Christian) 145-129; Wilson def. Leah Hayes (Clarksville Acad.) 164-157; Olivia Van Hooser (Friendship Christian) def. Wilson 199-128.