Iowa high school bowling 2024-25: Gazette-area teams and bowlers to watch

Gazette-area teams and bowlers to watch for the 2024-25 Iowa high school bowling season.

Girls’ teams to watch

Vinton-Shellsburg — The Vikings finished third in last year’s Class 1A state tournament and return talented senior duo Tori Richart and Kylee Kirchner.

West Delaware — Last season’s top four bowlers (Amelia Schneiders, Natalie Palmer, Anna Sickels and Mia Cuevas) return to a Hawks team that finished eighth at state in 1A.

Decorah — Five of the Vikings’ top six (Marri Feuerhelm, Karlie Einck, Addison Wicklund, Rylee Averhoff and Jasera Tweten) are back. They’ll look to improve upon last year’s fifth-place finish in the 2A state tournament.

Independence — Emma Gonzalez, Addison Lamphier, Carlie Hanson and Brooklyn Tudor all return for their senior seasons, hungry to best last season’s seventh-place state finish in 2A.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson — The J-Hawks bring back top bowlers Kayla Staub and Sabrina Poock a year after finishing sixth in the 3A state tournament.

Girls’ bowlers to watch

Kylee Kirchner, sr., and Tori Richart, sr. Vinton-Shellsburg — Kirchner was a seventh-place finisher in last year’s state tournament and was a second-team all-district nominee. Richart was a second-team all-stater.

Kylie Cook, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — Cook proved she could handle the big stage as a sophomore, finishing with the 13th highest three-game series (612) individually at state in 3A.

Libby Kalous, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington — Kalous was a first-team all-stater. Her 192.30 per-game average was good for fourth in 2A.

Natalie Palmer, so., West Delaware — After an impressive freshman year, Palmer looks to build upon a 24th place finish in the 1A state tournament.

Monica Coppa, sr., Marion — Coppas’ 582 three-game series in the 2A state tournament was good for 11th. She finished first in the Wamac Conference tournament (637 series).

Boys’ teams to watch

Cedar Rapids Prairie — The Hawks bring several key bowlers back to a team that finished fifth in last year’s 3A state tournament, including three who averaged better than 206 (Peyton Guyer, Wyatt Craig and Nathan Lockhart).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy — While four of its top-six bowlers graduated, Jaeson Stockwell and Nick Deeds return to a Kennedy team that placed sixth at state.

Decorah — The Vikings led 2A in score per game (3,033) and finished third at the state tournament. Jordan Sims and Bryce Elsbernd return to the fold for Decorah.

Iowa City High — The Little Hawks led 3A in total pins (32,352) last season. Top bowler Carson Reid returns for his senior season, as does Henry Sexton.

Vinton-Shellsburg — Last year’s 1A state champion Vann Lessig graduated. Fortunately for the Vikings, four of their top six are back, including Byron Christianson (201 average). Vinton-Shellsburg finished fourth in scoring per game (2,954) in 1A.

Boys’ players to watch

Peyton Guyer, sr., and Wyatt Craig, sr. Cedar Rapids Prairie — Both were first-team all-staters and all-district members last year. Guyer had the highest per-game average in 3A (230). Craig was close behind averaging 223, good for third.

Carson Reid, jr., Iowa City High — Reid finished 10th in the 3A state tournament with a 690 three-game series and was named a second-team all-stater. His 216 per-game average was good for ninth in 3A. He was first-team all-district.

Brady Hartke, sr., West Delaware — Hartke had an impressive junior season qualifying for state and was second-team all-district. He averaged nearly 197 per game.

Jordan Sims, sr., Decorah — A 215 per-game average was good for ninth in 2A. Sims was a second-team all-stater.

Carston Guess, jr., Iowa City West — Guess led the Trojans with a 210 average and finished 12 th at the 3A state tournament with a 665 three-game series. He was a second-team all-district nominee.