SECTION IV BOYS BOWLING: WAVERLY THREE-PEATS AS STATE QUALIFIER CHAMPS (2025-02-27)

By TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly came from behind in the afternoon session to win its third consecutive Section IV Division 2 Boys Bowling State Qualifier at Valley Bowling Center here Thursday.

One of the keys to Waverly’s success has been its consistency, not just at the state qualifier, but throughout the entire season and in previous years as well.

“We won the STAC championships. That was the first goal and to win sectionals, we did that and then won the state qualifier,” coach Derek Bowman said. “We’ve got one more goal in mind.

“It's exciting,” Bowman added of the Wolverines’ third straight trip to the state tournament. “It's three years in a row now. We took fourth, then second and now, hopefully, we can capitalize and come out on top.”

The Wolverines rolled a 3313 series in the morning, then closed with a 3155 in the afternoon to top Maine-Endwell by 35 pins, 9534-9499.

Waverly trailed Owego, 3147-3066, and M-E, 3118-3066, after last week’s class sectional tournaments, but the River Hawks dropped off the pace Thursday morning with a 2939 while M-E scored 3336 and the Wolverines tallied 3313.

That put the Spartans in front of Waverly, 6454-6379, heading into the afternoon session while Owego dropped into third at 6086. The Wolverines posted a 3155 with M-E registered a 3045 over the final three games.

Derek Johnson led the champs with a 9-game 2011 series which included a 268 high game and 728 series during the morning session, Both scores were second among Division 2 bowlers. He added a 670 series in the afternoon to go with a 613 at class sectionals.

Maison Apgar rolled a 702 series in the morning, had a634 in the afternoon and a 630 at class sectionals for a 1966 overall score.

Colten Santalucia, who shot 662 at class sectionals, added a 619 and 639 Thursday for a 1920 total.

Dominick Wood competed in five games Thursday and finished with a 644 afternoon series and an 8-game series of 1623 while Griffin Walter also bowled five games with a 245-665 in the morning. Tristan Campbell participated in two games Thursday with a 220 in the morning and 221 in the afternoon.

The Wolverines head to AMF Strike ’N Spare Lanes in Syracuse March 16 with a veteran line-up, most of which has state-level experience.

“We graduated two guys last year,” Bowman said. “I feel like we have really good bowlers, but we have an even better team.”

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IN PHOTO 1: Derek Johnson. ... IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly three-peated as Section IV champions. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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