Artesia High School bowling prepares to bring ninth state title to 'City of Champions'
Known as the City of Champions with 32 state football titles, Artesia is preparing for another state title in bowling as the regular season ends Saturday in Bernalillo.
Head coach Ken Clayton has guided the Artesia High School keglers to eight state titles and a ninth is possible as the team prepares for the state championships next month in Albuquerque.
Artesia wins own tournament in big fashion
Six times out of the season the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs travel to the Albuquerque area for tournaments.
Last weekend Artesia stayed home as 11 teams from northern New Mexico and Las Cruces participated in the Bulldog Invitational at Artesia Lanes.
More: Defending state champions Artesia High bowlers host 11 teams in weekend tournament
Clayton spent time during the tournament checking on 35 individual student-athletes as teams were formed to compete against larger schools like Albuquerque High School, Rio Rancho High School and Albuquerque La Cueva.
Once the team bowling ended, Clayton said attaining any titles would come down to Baker Games.
“I’m not nervous. I try to tell them (the bowlers) it’s not pressure when you know what you’re doing. They work real hard,” Clayton said.
According to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), Baker Games occur when multiple bowlers combine to bowl one game.
Developed by Frank Baker, former executive secretary of the American Bowling Congress, the format is comprised of nearly five bowlers bowling in each frame of a game, according to the NFHS website.
The Baker format offers a higher emphasis on bowling as a team as each shot is crucial to a team’s success, per Bowling Tourney.com.
Artesia’s first advanced team won the title with 3,457 points. Rio Rancho Cleveland’s first advanced bowling finished second with 3,259 points.
More: Artesia's Kambry Collins plans for another state bowling title as Bulldogs seek domination
Artesia also won the intermediate division trophy with 3,031 points.
“I’m proud of everyone for their effort. (The) kids bowled great,” Clayton said.
Bowling a major sport in Artesia?
Artesia Lanes was packed with spectators Saturday as a series of bleachers were brought in to accommodate fans.
Darian Jaramillo, superintendent of the Artesia Public Schools, was one of those in attendance.
“It’s really exciting, you can feel the energy and excitement,” she said. “I can’t wait to watch them at state.”
Jaramillo was appointed superintendent last July and said her husband, Tony Jaramillo, coached bowling while living in Los Lunas.
Now he teaches at Artesia High School and helped coach the Bulldog football team to its 32nd state title last fall.
Artesia back on road before state
At 1 p.m. Saturday in Bernalillo at the Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel, Clayton will determine who the top bowlers will be going to the state tournament Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 in Albuquerque.
“It’s a great end of the season for our whole team,” he said.
The top five bowlers are Payton DeMerritt, Hagen Murph, Tyler Romine and Jace Miles heading into the Starlight Tournament.
Clayton said Miles threw 14 strikes in a row during the Bulldog Invitational last weekend.
“The last tournament for our seniors is a big one for us. We want to finish the season on a high note,” he said.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Artesia High School bowling team prepares for ninth state title
