2024 Gadsden Times all-area boys and girls bowling teams with players and coach of the year
Gadsden City's Max Howard and Southside's Cora Clontz are the Gadsden Times Bowlers of the Year and they highlight the all-area teams.
Clontz earned the honors after winning the individual medal for the Class 1A-5A girls state title and helping lead the Panthers to their fifth state title in school history. What makes this season special is that Clontz finally got her own title, after her sisters helped win four straight. With the individual medal, she did something that her sisters had not accomplished.
"It means a lot because now I'm making my own name because my sisters they were the four-time state champs and now its my moment, not to be self centered — but its my time, not just to be known as their sister. I'm going to be Cora Clontz, the state champ," Clontz said.
For Howard, the award comes after a spectacular senior season, where he rose his average up to the 200s. He changed his bowling style in the offseason and paid off dividends for him.
"It means a lot to me because I went from averaging around the 120-130 range, to this year averaging around the 190-200 range," Howard said. "So I switched to two-handed back in February (2023). I started off and I wasn't too great but kept working and around summer, I realized I was getting better with my numbers and from there on, I just committed to that."
Here is the Gadsden Times all-area boys and girls bowling teams:
Boys all-area bowling team
Bowler of the Year: Max Howard, Gadsden City
Why chosen: Howard finished seventh at the state meet, as Gadsden City returned for the first time in a few seasons under new coach Art Jones. Howard averaged around 207 for the season.
Kaed Bradley, Etowah
Why chosen: Bradley brought home an eighth-place finish at states this season and averaged 199.
Evan Clay, Southside
Why chosen: Clay averaged 184 on the year and brought home a fourth-place finish at the regional.
Derik Henson, Gadsden City
Why chosen: Henson averaged 187 for the year and placed fourth at states.
Trey Morgan, Southside
Why chosen: Morgan turned it on when it counted and took home first place at the regional and earned all-state honors from the coaches association.
EJ Teal, Etowah
Why chosen: Teal placed third at states with an average of 181 on the year.
Girls all-area bowling team
Bowler of the Year: Cora Clontz
Why chosen: Clontz, only a sophomore, turned it up in the second and third games, bowling more than 200 to claim the individual state championship. She averaged 180 for the year, while anchoring the Panthers Blue Map Trophy run and earning all-state honors from the coaches.
Aaliyah Bostick, Gadsden City
Why chosen: Bostick helped get Gadsden City back to the regional and a 9-2 regular season record.
Keisly Hull, Southside
Why chosen: Hull placed third at the regional and average 160 for the state champs.
Lacey Garmon, Gadsden City
Why chosen: Bostick helped get Gadsden City back to the regional and a 9-2 regular season record.
Brayleigh Peppers, Southside
Why chosen: Peppers performed her best when the lights were bright placing 10th at states this season with an average of 145.
Keira Phillips, Southside
Why chosen: Phillips averaged 150 on the year and placed ninth at regionals, and then helped the Panthers bring home a Blue Map Trophy.
Coach of the Year: Zachary Blume, Southside
Why chosen: Blume helped to lead his girls team to the Blue Map Trophy, the fifth in program history, all under Blume and had Clontz, win the individual title while Peppers and Hull placed high at states. While the boys team fell in regionals, they had strong performances through out the season as well.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 2024 Gadsden Times all-area boys and girls bowling teams
