Sparkman On Top Of Bowling; Boys Win State Championship, Girls Finish Runner-Up
GADSDEN- Sparkman High beat Spain Park 4-3 in the grueling finals of the AHSAA Class 6-7A Boys State Bowling Championships held at The Alley Bowling Center in Gadsden. In girls, the Lady Senators fell to American Christian 4-2 in the finals in their attempt to defend their two-time state championship.
The Senators, led by head coach Lisa Ivey, roared through the opening rounds of the championship bracket defeating Auburn 4-0 and Vestavia Hills 4-3 before the battle against defending champion Spain Park for their first title since 2021. The Sparkman lineup of Rory Donnelly, Dalton Robinson, Zacary Swain, Alfonso Carrington III and Dalton Tolgo fended off the challenge of Spain Park in a seventh game winner-take-all. In the final game, Sparkman out rolled Spain Park 181-177.
In the individual play at the State Tournament, Swaim finished third with games of 190, 180 and 235 for a 605 series while Tolgo was just behind in fourth place with scores of 191, 205 and 202 to finish with a 598 series. Both athletes were among the top eight who earned All-State honors.
Trying to win three in-a-row was the goal for the Sparkman girls team, but the road to the title had to go through American Christian which beat Sparkman to win the North Regionals prior to the State Tournament. After the Lady Senators defeated Thompson 4-1 and Oak Mountain 4-2 to advance to the finals against the Patriots, Sparkman opened the finals with a victory in game one 197-182, but fell to the Patriots in three of the next four games. In the deciding game, American Christian posted a 181-132 score to secure the title.
On the individual battle in the first day of action, Angela Webber was tops for the Lady Senators finishing third with game scores of 139, 200 and 171 for a 510 series. Her effort put her in the top eight and earned her All-State honors. Her younger sister, Jenna Webber, finished ninth with a 469 series while Natalie Alsup rolled a 439 series for a No. 16 placement.
