Local bowlers find a new home, thrive in Crawfordsville

Friday, March 4, 2011
The Greencastle bowling team advanced to the regional this season. Members of the GHS team are (front, left) Zane Miller, Austin Alspaugh, Tony Higgins, (middle) Jacob Ensor, Matt Cox, Ray Stinson and (back) coach Scott Alexander.

GREENCASTLE -- With the lack of a bowling center in Greencastle Lucille Liebert, coach and coordinator of the high school bowlers of Putnam County, was able to get move some of the competitors north.

The bowlers competed at Plaza Lanes in Crawfordsville and in doing so become part of the Wabash Valley League. Conference coordinator Scott Dever made a boys' and girls' team from Greencastle and co-ed squads from North Putnam and South Putnam. They competed in a separate division due to the fact they were unable to travel any farther north than Crawfordsville.

They would compete against other teams when they visited Plaza Lanes

The Greencastle boys' team was only defeated in one match, falling to North Montgomery. The two squads won an equal number of baker games, but North Montgomery recorded a larger total pin count than GHS, therefore giving them the win.

The individual competition for the sectional was held at Plaza Lanes as well. Austin Alspaugh and Jacob Ensor of Greencastle advanced to regional, with teammate Matt Cox as an alternate.

The Greencastle boys' team of Alspaugh, Ensor, Zane Miller, Tony Higgins, Ray Stinton and Cox advanced to regional as well. Ensor rolled a three game series of 676 during regional competition, advancing to semi-state.

Sam Schlatter, a South Putnam bowler, was named to the Academic All-State team. To be eligible for this honor, a bowler had to be a senior, compete in at least one varsity game, have a minimum GPS of 3.5 and a minimum SAT score of 1500 or an ACT score of 22. Schlatter was honored at the state finals with other academic bowlers.

Scott Alexander and Michael Friars helped Liebert as coaches this season.