East River’s girls bowling team hasn’t lost a match in three years and is primed to claim its third consecutive FHSAA state championship in its home house at Orlando’s Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center in a couple of weeks.
But first, the Falcons have to take care of business in a loaded District 6 tournament on Wednesday at the Boardwalk Center. East River is the favorite, but not by much.
Last Thursday, the Falcons were on the precipice of defeat in a dual match against district rival Space Coast, which won the 2022 state championship. East River (15-0) prevailed 2,650 to 2,620 in its closest match of the year.
The Falcons will see Space Coast again on Wednesday.
“They are a very good team,” said Falcons coach Tom Tagye. “We were down 70 pins after the first game and we had to rally in Baker games. I told the girls that championship teams find a way to step up when they’re down.”
Reigning Orlando Sentinel girls bowler of the year, Larielle Tharps, is averaging 232 as an East River junior. Camdyn Nielsen, senior, has a 210 average and bowled a 222 game Wednesday.
Winter Park (14-1), which has lost only to East River, will also challenge for a state tourney berth. Kayla Robertson bowled a 213 game and hit 90% (strikes or spares) in Baker matches in the Wildcats final regular season match.
Only the top two teams in each district advance.
Top Orlando area boys teams are unbeatens South Lake (14-0), Windermere (10-0), East River (15-0) and Hagerty (16-0).
The District 6 boys race is crowded with East River and Hagerty joined by Space Coast and Astronaut.
“There are five or six teams that could win it, and only two advance to state,” East River coach Tagye said. “And then, only two individuals not on those two (top) teams advance. That’s a lot of good bowlers (and teams) that won’t advance.”
Astronaut lost to East River by one pin last Wednesday.
The East River girls bowling team includes sister, from left, senior Jada Vidal, sophomore Mya Vidal, and freshman Tara Vidal. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
East River has a top trio with reigning Sentinel boys bowler of the year Francis “Pancho” Johnson averaging 234 as a sophomore and junior Shelby Davis averaging 227. Ninth grader Tiberius Boy averages 213 and rolled a 268 game in the Falcons regular season finale on Wednesday.
Hagerty is led by Mitch Guttenberg and Nick Stephan.
Windermere is a clear favorite for the District 7 tourney Tuesday at Bowlero Apopka with its top threesome of Ryan Martin (216 average), Andres De La Rosa (208), who was an individual state qualifier last year, and Jacob Larson (200). Martin set a school-record 725 three-game series as the Wolverines totaled 3,084 to cap their regular season.
Apopka (9-1), which lost only to Windermere in the regular season, has tradition on its side,
District 4 has perennial power Leesburg, which has won two state titles and finished state runner-up over the past four years. But South Lake is looking to dethrone the Yellowjackets at Lakeside Lanes in Tavares on Tuesday. The Eagles have seven bowlers averaging 216 or higher, led by Jesse Barnhill’s 230. He’s followed closely by Brody Carter (228), Ryan Sapp (227), Dale Hull (226) and Mason Harding (222).
District 8 is Monday at AMF Kissimmee.
Nick Stephan is one of the top bowlers for a strong Hagerty team. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
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