The Harrisburg boys’ bowling team recently claimed first place in both their regional and sectional tournaments, securing a spot at the state tournament.
At the regional in Herrin, Harrisburg placed first with a score of 6,447. The team followed up with another first-place finish at the sectional in Collinsville, scoring 6,499. Several Harrisburg bowlers finished in the top 10 at the regional tournament. Caleb Gore won first place with a total score of 1,467, while Dalton Wheeler placed third with 1,346. James Cranmore finished fifth with 1,307, and Jonathan Carlton took eighth with 1,227. At the sectional, Gore earned second place with a score of 1,395.
Carlton said, “It’s exciting when we win as a team. This year and last year, we always knew we were the best team at every tournament. Winning is exciting for us because even if one of us doesn’t perform well, we’re still excited about how the team is doing.”
Many of the Harrisburg bowlers feel they’ve given their best effort. Cranmore added, “I feel I’ve performed well, helping my team plenty. We’ve got each other’s backs—if one of us has a bad game, we don’t sweat it.”
Looking ahead to the state tournament, the team is focused on maintaining the right mindset. Wheeler said, “I feel that once we get to the state tournament, this team will be the best physically. It’s all about mentally showing up and being prepared for the transition.” Harrisburg is eager to compete in the state tournament, with confidence in both their skills and team cohesion. Last year the team won second in the state, and this year they are hoping to come home with a first place win.
