Local girls aim high at state bowling tournaments

Published 10:30 pm Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Four of the five Everett High School bowlers who qualified for the Class 3A state tournament, to be held Thursday through Saturday at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place, have competed in previous state tournaments.

That’s a big reason Seagulls coach Marjorie Bovey said she believes her team can at least come close to replicating last year’s second-place finish.

“There’s nothing that beats experience,” Bovey said. “Just taking out the element of nerves that come from never being there before gives them an advantage going into the tournament. They don’t have to think about what they don’t know because they’ve experienced it so many times.”

Everett won the District 3A tournament Jan. 25, with JoJo Durr taking first place, Riannon Whitehead placing third and Lilly Ellis fifth. Those three, along with Becca Durr and Elizabeth Casper, will compete at state.

“We had a strong showing at districts, and to have that momentum going into state is a benefit for us,” Bovey said. “The whole team is capable of a strong (individual) showing, but we want to make sure the team element is there first. Anything else that happens is just an extra positive.”

Pair of Bruins headed to 4A state

Two underclassmen will represent Cascade at the Class 4A tournament, also to be held Thursday through Saturday at Narrows Plaza Bowl — sophomore Paris Smith and freshman Jessika Brambach.

Smith qualified for the state tournament for a second consecutive year.

“Paris has the goal of getting up on top,” Bruins coach Ron Hicks said. “With one year (of state competition), she knows what to expect. She’s improved her average over last year by about 20 pins. She’s taken private lessons and bowled in a lot of Saturday-morning tournaments. She listens well and isn’t afraid to try things.”

Brambach’s instant impact isn’t a surprise to Hicks.

“She’s been bowling since she was 5,” he said. “She bowls in a Saturday-morning league at Evergreen Lanes, and her family (members) are all bowlers. She comes from a long background in bowling. She works hard and wants to get better.”

Jackson’s Mutolo catching on

Samantha Mutolo is a good softball player — she’s the starting catcher on a Jackson team that finished third in last year’s 4A state tournament. But a couple of years ago, she decided to take a break from the year-round grind of softball and find a new passion. She found that passion in a bowling alley.

Mutolo turned out for the Timberwolves bowling team for the first time as a sophomore last season, and became a star this season, qualifying for the 4A state tournament.

“When she showed up (last year), I wasn’t expecting much from her since she had been bowling for only a month,” Jackson coach Dan Eng said. “But she totally shocked me. She had a big hook and speed and a lot of control. A bowler needs strong legs, and you can imagine how strong her legs are from being a catcher. We’re so lucky that she turned out.”

Eng said Mutolo’s goal is to place at state, and that she’s capable of such a feat.

“She’s a student of the game, and she works hard at it,” he said. “She has the ability and desire to compete. She’s got high expectations, and she’s as cool as a cucumber.”