Girls Bowling Wins Southwestern Conference Championship

Girls Bowling captured the Southwestern Conference Championship on Sunday at Nautical Lanes, completing a dramatic comeback and securing the program’s fifth conference title in the last six seasons.

The conference championship was determined by a combination of regular-season head-to-head matches and the Southwestern Conference Tournament. Amherst entered the tournament with a 6-1 conference record, trailing North Ridgeville, which stood at 7-0. The championship scenario was clear: the Comets needed to win the tournament, and North Ridgeville had to finish third or worse.

Amherst put itself in position early during the individual games. Peyton Zakrajsek led the way with a 490 series, rolling games of 127, 158, and 205 to finish third overall individually. Kiara Taylor followed with a consistent 415 series (133-155-127), while Isabell Mendosa added a 438 series (147-159-132). So Chapman contributed a strong 472 series with games of 154, 152, and 166, and Haydn Beischlag rounded out the scoring with a 363 series (122-107-134). The Comets totaled 2,178 pins as a team after the individual games.

Midview led the field after individual play with a team score of 2,233, while North Ridgeville found itself in fifth place with a 1,970 total, opening the door for Amherst’s championship hopes. As the tournament shifted to Baker play, the team title came down to Amherst and Midview.

After three Baker games, Midview held a commanding 90-pin advantage. Amherst responded in the fourth Baker game with a pivotal 212, cutting the deficit as Midview rolled a 150 to trim the margin to just 28 pins. Momentum continued to swing in the fifth Baker game, as Amherst posted a 209 while Midview managed a 149, giving the Comets a 32-pin lead heading into the final game. Midview outpaced Amherst slightly in the sixth Baker game, 147-145, but it was not enough to overcome the Comets’ surge.

With the tournament victory secured and North Ridgeville finishing fourth overall, Amherst claimed the Southwestern Conference Championship. The title marks the fifth conference championship for the Comets in the last six years, adding to their championship runs in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2026.