The boys bowling team competed in their regional tournament this past Saturday in Decatur where they finished second overall and will be moving on to the sectional tournament next week in Belleville.

Leading the way for the tournament was Jerseyville who scored 5,848 against Edwardsville’s team score of 5,717. Coming in third was Alton with a 5,633 and in fourth was Taylorville with a 5528 team score. The top four teams at the regional tournament advance to the sectional tournament.

Senior Mitch McSparin earned third place individually at the regional tournament, which was the highest placing on the team.

“After the first game, I threw a 235, and was feeling really confident,” McSparin said. “I knew I would be in the top five.”

After the first three games McSparin knew he was holding down second place with a score of 661. As the day progressed, the team held steady with their scores and no one had a bad game, according to McSparin.

Along with McSparin, junior Hunter Noud also placed in the top ten individually with a tournament score average of 205.

“Saturday was a pretty good day. I wanted to go onto sectionals and have at least a 190 score average,” Noud said. “The first game was a bit disappointing but I redeemed myself in the last five games.”

Noud was able to achieve his individual goals as well as contribute to the team goal of advancing further in postseason.

“We were feeling confident with the teams there that we were going to be able to place,” McSparin said. “We had our Southwestern Conference rivals Alton there, so that was one team we knew we could compete with.”

Last year the boys missed advancing to the sectional tournament and had only one member of the team place as an individual.

“[Saturday] was a great day for all of us,” Noud said. “We all wanted to go to sectionals and managed to place second that day.”

Though the team’s postseason is just kicking off, senior Tyler Cooper and McSparin are making their memories last while bowling for their last times as Tigers.

“I look up to Mitch and Cooper,” Noud said. “The seniors are excellent and next year I hope to be on their level.”
The bowling team will compete this Saturday the 23rd at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville.