Tornado girls bowlers 4th in tournament

Tornado girls bowlers 4th in tournament

BUTLER TWP — Butler was on its home lanes — it just didn't feel like it.
On Thursday, Family Bowlaway hosted the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League girls championships, which brought together the top 16 teams of the 48-team conference.
The Golden Tornado finished fourth with a three-game total of 2,341. Hempfield won with a 2,762, followed by Penn-Trafford with 2,465 and Gateway with 2,374.
“This was a tough shot,” Butler coach Bill Fay said. “The lanes were much more oily than normal and our girls had trouble with it.
“A lot of the teams struggled with it. That's why we were able to stay in the hunt.”
Brea Suchonic paced Butler with a 538 series, including games of 192 and 190. Hempfield turned in a pair of 600 series with Ashley Howe's 619 and Kim Rose's 601.
“Our girls had trouble adjusting on their spare shots,” Butler assistant coach Jim Hepler said. “But it's good they experienced these conditions because we're going to see them again.”
The regional championships take place Saturday at North Versailles. All 16 of the teams competing Thursday and three teams from the Erie league will comprise the field.
The top six teams from the regional advance to Pottstown for the state championships the weekend of March 18.
“Our team stands a really good shot at getting through,” Fay said.
The WPIBL Championships have been held annually since 1992, but Butler had never hosted the event before Thursday.
“Plenty of people turned out to watch this, including supporters from other schools,” Family Bowlaway manager Andy Hevesy said. “People will travel to follow their bowlers.”
The WPIBL began with eight teams in 1990. It has 48 teams this year and expects to expand to 60 by next season.
“The growth has been steady, year after year,” said WPIBL president Angelo Bordogna, who also coaches the Central Catholic team.
The WPIBL Boys Championships took place Wednesday at White Oak Bowl. Hempfield won that event as well. Butler finished seventh.
Jacob Cookson paced the Tornado with a 547 series, including a 201 game.
WPIBL BOYS CHAMPIONSHIPS
at White Oak Bowl
Final Standings
Hempfield 2,565, Chartiers Valley 2,446, East Allegheny 2,444, Baldwin 2,444, West Mifflin 2,441, Moon 2,384, Butler 2,380, Hopewell 2,324, Greensburg Salem 2,311, Montour 2,298, Plum 2,291, Central Catholic 2,262, Penn Hills 2,227, Shaler 2,144, North Allegheny 2,068, Rochester 2,026
WPIBL GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Family Bowlaway
Final Standings
Hempfield 2,762, Penn Trafford 2,465, Gateway 2,374, Butler 2,341, North Allegheny 2,337, Penn Hills 2,333, Moon, 2,258, Hopewell 2,188, Montour 2,158, Baldwin 2,142, West Mifflin 2,133, Beaver Falls 2,069, Canon McMillan 1,967, Bishop Canevin 1,884, New Castle 1,791, East Allegheny 1,728