2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best high school girls bowlers in central Ohio?
Nine state qualifiers, a few of whom made history for themselves and their teams, are among 12 honorees on the 2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro girls bowling team.
The Athlete of the Year in each sport — 30 in all — will be announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium. Each member of the All-Metro girls bowling team will receive a free ticket to that live event, where nine premier awards also will be announced, including boys and girls overall athletes of the year, boys and girls overall coaches of the year, boys and girls overall teams of the year, courage award, school spirit award and lifetime achievement award.
All-Metro Coach of the Year: Denise Wiley inspires Newark bowlers
Kenna Barnes, Teays Valley
The junior was consistently strong, winning the Division I sectional championship (640) and finishing ninth at district (538) after ranking 11th in the Central Ohio High School Bowling Conference in average (170 pins per game) during the regular season. Barnes, who came up two places and 21 pins shy of a state berth at district, led the Vikings (13-3, 8-1) to a second-place finish in the COHSBC-A Division.
Mercedes Bassitt, DeSales
A senior, Bassitt ranked second in the COHSBC in average (178) during the regular season with a high game of 267. Bassitt was 20th in the Division I sectional (518) and eighth at district (545), 14 pins out of the final individual state berth. She also averaged 181.5 during CCL competition.
Amber Brockway, Worthington Kilbourne
The junior reached her first state tournament after averaging 176.3 in the COHSBC, third to Bassitt and Pickerington Central’s Emma Pugh. Brockway tied for 10th in the Division I sectional (549) and was seventh at district (559) to clinch the fourth and final berth to state, where she placed 34th (522).
Jade Gabor, Newark
The three-time Division I state qualifier wrapped up her high school career with a fourth-place finish in the state tournament (644), only nine pins out of first place. Gabor averaged 199.8 in the regular season, was second at sectional (631) and won district (684) by 68 pins. Gabor was 29th at state as a junior and 71st as a sophomore.
Daisy Henderson, Jonathan Alder
The senior appeared in her second Division I state tournament but first as an individual, tying for 40th (514). Henderson ranked ninth in the Central Buckeye Conference (182), leading her team in average by 14 pins, before tying for 17th at sectional (524) and finishing fourth at district (597). Henderson was 32nd at state as a junior.
Lacey Holden, Gahanna Lincoln
One of several talented bowlers in a deep lineup, Holden ranked fifth in the COHSBC (176.1) to lead the Lions to an undefeated regular season (13-0, 10-0 COHSBC-A). Her high game of 278 led the conference. Holden tied for 45th in the Division I sectional (478), was 18th at district (513) and tied teammate Jordan Carruthers for 22nd at state (547). Gahanna placed seventh as a team.
Anja Muskopf, Worthington Christian
The junior led the Warriors to an undefeated regular season (16-0, 13-0 COHSBC-C) by averaging 165.7, 17th in the conference. She finished 18th in the Division II sectional (480) and tied for seventh at district (559), 13 pins out of the second and final individual berth to state.
Olivia Nastasi, East Knox
The senior, who took up bowling three years ago to help build the Bulldogs’ program, followed up a regular season in which she averaged 193.3 by finishing sixth in the Division II sectional tournament (557), third at district (572) and 27th at state (534). Nastasi was Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference Bowler of the Year.
Victoria Pletcher, Lakewood
The senior averaged 184.7 in Licking County League competition and paced the Lancers to their second Division II state tournament in three seasons. Pletcher was fourth at sectional (564) and district (571) and 66th at state (469). Lakewood was district runner-up as a team and 16th at state.
Emma Pugh, Pickerington Central
The COHSBC’s leader in average at 198.1, an increase of 14 pins from her sophomore season, Pugh finished third in the Division I sectional (609), sixth at district (582) and 53rd (487) in her second state appearance. Pugh tied for 49th at state as a freshman.
Olivia Strait, Licking Valley
After averaging 188 in LCL matches, the senior tied for sixth in the Division I sectional (585) and was district runner-up (616) to earn her second state berth. Strait, who placed 27th at state (541), was Division II district champion as a sophomore and finished 31st at state.
Abbie Wheeler, London
The freshman drove the Red Raiders to their first state tournament, leading a turnaround from a 9-14 regular season. Wheeler, who ranked fifth in the CBC in average (195.4), tied for 17th at the Division I sectional (524) and was fifth at district (591) before placing 12th at state (572). London finished third at district and 15th at state.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro high school girls bowling team
