Hononegah Third at IHSA Boys Bowling Meet

Hononegah led all area boys bowling teams at the IHSA Boys Bowling State Meet at the St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon on Friday and Saturday.

The Indians finished in third place as a team, scoring a total pinfall of 12,575. Tinley Park Andrew won the state title with 12,821 pins, followed by Vernon Hills' total of 12,652.

Leading the way for Hononegah were David Cliffe and Austin Buss. Cliffe rolled a two-day total of 2,699, an average of 224.9, to place fifth individually. Buss placed ninth individually with a two-day total of 2,655, an average of 221.3. Cliffe's highest game was a 268 in the third game of the third round, which saw his highest series total of 730 (241-221-628). Buss's highest game was 248 in the third game of the second round, and his highest series was in the third round with a 704 (243-217-244).

Jordan Giedd was the only other Indian to complete an entire tournament, rolling a two-day total of 2,497 to finish in 34th place individually. Giedd's higest game was a 256 in the third game of the third round, and his highest series total was 673 (236-217-220). Cody Coogan bowled in the fourth position for the Indians, while Dalton Holcomb and Collin Estes platooned in the fifth position. Chris Williams also rolled a game for the Indians, while Jacob Hoaglund was also available as a reserve.

The third-place team honor comes the lead accomplishment of the Indians' best season in history.

Christian Life's Jonathan Melton was the only other area bowler in the state's top ten with a two-day total of 2,656, an average of 221.3, which was just one pin ahead of Buss's total.

Orland Park Sandburg's Joey Kopera won the individual state title with a two-day total of 2,733, an average of 227.8.

Dixon, Freeport and Oregon also bowled as full teams, but did not crack the top 12.

Derek Siebert led the Dukes with a two-day total of 2,532, averaging 211 for the meet in which he placed 26th overall. Will Nordman led the Hawks with a two-day total of 2,489, averaging 207.4 for the meet in which he placed 38th overall. Kyler Jacobson led the Pretzels with a two-day total of 2,432, averaging 202.7 for the meet in which he placed 53rd.

Also finishing in the top 25 was LaSalle-Peru's Austin Plock, who finished in 16th position with a two-day total of 2,589 averaging 215.8 for the meet. Hall's David McManus also cracked the top 25, rolling a two-day total of 2,562 and averaged 213.5 for 21stplace honors.

Lutheran's Jacob Aldrich finished in the top 50 individually, rolling a two-day total of 2,452 and averaging 204.3 for a 46th place showing.

-Cody