By Eduard Sides

For The Tribune

LAFAYETTE — Around 800 middle school students began the season in 43 bowling centers around the state of Indiana.

Last Saturday, 101 bowlers and their families drove to Mike Aulby’s Arrowhead Bowl in Lafayette for the state finals.

Of the 101 bowlers, 87 were bowling in singles competition, while 24 were bowling in both singles and team competitions.

From Seymour, regional seventh grade champion Oliver Lanam and regional eighth grade champion Cohl Moore were in attendance along with regional and semistate champion Tora Simmons from Scottsburg. They would be competing against bowlers in the same grade and gender.

The bowlers each bowled four games, all scratch and all four counted for total pinfall.

Throughout the day, they had good games and bad, great strikes and terrible spares left. Their emotions ran high and low throughout the day, and their own personal pressure built. But when it was all said and done, no matter where they placed, they were all proud of what they had accomplished because their coaches, parents and friends certainly were, as well.

Once it was all finished, only Lanam was able to be consistent throughout the competition. At one point, he was in first place but ended in third place for the seventh grade boys. Simmons finished fifth overall, and for a first-time bowler at that level, that was something to be proud of. Moore had a great start, but then a thumb issue and shoe issue began to hinder his chances, and he did not place within the top five.

Again, congratulations to all of the bowlers who bowled through the season and made it to the state finals.