Blackman's Berry, Snow headline DNJ 2020 all-area bowling teams

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Blackman seniors Jacob Berry and Baileigh Snow led their boys and girls bowling teams in average during their first three seasons.

During their senior campaign, the two combined on one Blaze co-ed squad that competed in the boys division and reached the Division I state semifinals.

Not only were they the top two bowlers at Blackman, but they also were tops in the area.

Berry is The Daily News Journal's Boys Bowler of the Year, and Snow is the Girls Bowler of the Year on the 2020 all-area bowling teams.

They have been among the best in the state since their freshman seasons. Siegel star Danielle Jedlicki won the girls award the previous four seasons while Smyrna had dominated the boys award behind former stars Josh Meeke and Xavier Powell-Short.

Blackman senior Baileigh Snow is the all-area girls bowler of the year for 2019-20.

Berry finished the season with a 227 average — second in the state — and reached the state individual semifinals while earning the Division I Mr. Bowler award.

"This season was the most enjoyable for me as a part of our team," Berry said. "I think a lot of us believed we could (reach state), and that was such a joy to watch this team come together."

Snow averaged 209 — also second in the state — en route to a state individual semifinals appearance. She was a finalist for the DI Miss Bowler award.

"Looking back, my (high school career) was filled with accomplishments, but none measure up to this season at all," Snow said. "Bowling on a co-ed team brought a completely different challenge every single match, and that's mainly because boys tend to score higher. It pushed me to play better than my absolute best at every single match."

Berry and Snow not only had to adjust to a co-ed team, but also a new coach (Jesse Messick) en route to the state appearance.

"I'm very thankful for the new perspective he brought to the table and how much he helped our team grow," Snow said. "Without him we would not have even had a team this year."

2020 all-area bowling teams

Girls

Bricey Caudill

Stewarts Creek, Fr.

Why chosen: Averaged 180.12 during the regular season and reached the Division I state individual tournament. Helped lead the Lady Red Hawks to the DI state team tournament.

Elizabeth Coutta

Smyrna, So.

Why chosen: Was third in the state in average (205.24) during the regular season and reached the Division I state individual semifinals, finishing eighth.

Savannah Greer

Stewarts Creek, So.

Why chosen: Averaged 169.58 in the regular season and advanced to the Division I state individual tournament. Helped lead the Lady Red Hawks to the DI state team tournament.

Haleigh Lawwell

Siegel, Sr.

Why chosen: Finished in the top 10 in the state in average during the regular season (189.75) and reached the Division I individual semifinals, placing 11th overall.

Savanah Phillips

Siegel, Fr.

Why chosen: Finished the season with a 167 average, including a high game of 247 and a high series of 555.

Baileigh Snow

Blackman, Sr.

Why chosen: The all-area girls bowler of the year was a Miss Bowler finalist, finishing second in the state in average (209) during the regular season and reaching the Division I state individual semifinals, finishing ninth. Helped lead the Blaze boys team to a state semifinals appearance.

Boys

Jacob Berry

Blackman, Sr.

Why chosen: The all-area boys bowler of the year was also named Division I Mr. Bowler after finishing the regular season with a 227.87 average. He reached the Division I individual state semifinals and led the Blaze team to the state semifinals.

Will Jedlicki

Siegel, So.

Why chosen: Led the Stars with a 197 average on the season with a high game of 267 and a high series of 760.

Brooks Leyhew

Siegel, Sr.

Why chosen: Averaged 210.57 during the regular season, reaching the Division I state individual tournament semifinals, finishing 12th overall.

Aaron Roe

Smyrna, Sr.

Why chosen: Averaged 207.04 during the regular season, advancing to the Division I state individual tournament semifinals, finishing 11th overall.

Christian Shaffer

La Vergne, Sr.

Why chosen: Led the Wolverines with a 196 average, including a high game of 267 and a high series of 728.

Chas Smart

Blackman, Sr.

Why chosen: Averaged 200 during the regular season, reaching the Division I state individual tournament semifinals and helping the Blaze team to the state semifinals.

Boys Coach of the Year

Jesse Messick, Blackman

Why chosen: In his first year of coaching bowling, Messick guided what became a co-ed squad and led it to the Division I boys state tournament.

Girls Coach of the Year

Jon Ruttencutter, Stewarts Creek

Why chosen: With the help of non-faculty coach Kimberly Hackney, led the Lady Red Hawks to the Division I girls team state tournament.