15 Tuscaloosa area high school bowlers to watch in postseason action
High school bowling is reaching the end of the regular season.
Regionals are being held Jan. 18-19, with the Northern Regional being held at the Spare Time Trussville in Birmingham, and the Southern Regional being held at Vestavia Bowl in Vestavia. Regionals are followed by the state tournament, Feb. 1-2, at Bowlero Mobile.
In the Tuscaloosa area, four boys teams qualified for regionals — Holt, Sipsey Valley, American Christian Academy and Tuscaloosa County. Four girls teams also qualified — Paul W. Bryant, Sipsey Valley, American Christian Academy and Northside. The American Christian Academy girls look to win its third-straight state title, claiming the 2023 Class 6A-7A title and the 2022 Class 1A-5A title.
Here are 15 bowlers to watch from the Tuscaloosa area in postseason action.
Benson Colburn
Holt, So.
Why chosen: Colburn has bowled an average score of 213 this season.
Jon James
Holt, Sr.
Why chosen: The senior is averaging a 189 on the season.
Trey Wallace
Holt, Sr.
Why chosen: Wallace bowled an average score of 145 throughout the regular season.
Hudson Wade
Sipsey Valley, Jr.
Why chosen: Wade, who is in his fifth-year on the team, is averaging a score of 186 this season. He rotates in at the anchor position with Conner Cochran.
Connor Cochran
Sipsey Valley, Sr.
Why chosen: The two-handed bowler combines with teammate Hudson Wade to give a one-two punch for the team which is averaging 1,232 points per match.
Sierra Knight
Sipsey Valley, Sr.
Why chosen: Knight has served as the team's anchor bowler in her five years on the team. This season, she has bowled an average score of 160.
Sara Turman
Sipsey Valley, Sr.
Why chosen: Turman, who is in her fifth season as part of the Sipsey Valley team, serves as the team's leadoff bowler. She has bowled an average score of 125 this season.
Dustin Hoskinson
Tuscaloosa County, So.
Why chosen: Hoskinson averaged a score of 183 on the season, and he bowled five games with a score of 200 or higher this season, with a season-high of 258.
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Curtis Childs
Tuscaloosa County, Fr.
Why chosen: The freshman averaged a score of 170 on the season, along with bowling one game with a score of 200 or higher.
Karrie Cooley.
Paul W. Bryant, Sr.
Why chosen: Cooley is preparing to go to regionals for the second time as a member of the Paul W. Bryant Lady Stampede bowling team. Coach Billy Skelton said she is usually the team's leadoff bowler in the traditional round and baker games, and she provides strong leadership for the team.
Shaleedra Watkins
Paul W. Bryant, Sr.
Why chosen: Watkins is in her third season as a member of the Lady Stampede Bowling Team. She serves as the team's setup position, bowling fourth in traditional and baker games. She also serves as a great one-two combination to closeout games with teammate Leah Simpson.
Leah Simpson
Paul W. Bryant, Jr.
Why chosen: Simpson has been a member of the Lady Stampede Bowling Team since seventh grade and has helped lead the team to regionals for four-straight years. She serves as the team's anchor bowler.
Sara Lee
Northside, Sr.
Why chosen: The senior is one of the top bowlers on the Northside team.
Heaven Parker
Northside, So.
Why chosen: Parker enters regionals as one of the top-3 bowlers on the Northside team.
Kyndall Bennett
Northside, Fr.
Why chosen: Bennett finished the regular season as one of Northside's leading bowlers.
Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA bowling: 15 Tuscaloosa area bowlers to watch in postseason play
