By: Marc Hardin , prepsports@enquirer.com
All hail the Boone County girls' bowling team.
The indomitable Rebels won their fifth consecutive Region 6 team championship Thursday, defeating Notre Dame Academy, 3-0 in the final. Scores were 170-138, 158-109, 175-131.
"I don't know if there's ever been a team at Boone County that has won five regionals in a row," Rebels coach Patty Mueller. "It's amazing."
Boone County has won all but one of the six regional titles since bowling became a sanctioned Kentucky high school sport in 2012. Mueller has guided the Rebels to their last three crowns.
"They dominated the lanes," Mueller said of her talented bowlers. "I couldn't be more proud."
Boone's five Baker bowlers Thursday included regional singles champion Taylor Evans, runner-up Kara Strong, Corina Mazur, Skylar Brinkley and Kaylee Austin. The Rebels' No. 1 seeding score of 1,069 was better than every boys' team but one.
"It's great being a young team and winning another championship and going to state," Strong said. "We're all like a family and we're excited."
Speaking of families. It was also a good day for the Wagners and Hustons.
Paul Wagner guided second-seeded Notre Dame to its first state appearance, clinched when the Pandas earned the final against Boone. The top two teams from each region advance to the state tournaments Feb. 9-10 at Eastland Lanes in Lexington.
Notre Dame's Baker bowlers were Alecia Radford, Sam Wichmann, Ruthie Franzen and twins Angela and Erica Huston.
"I knew they had it in them," Wagner said."
His father, Covington Catholic coach Gary Wagner, guided the Colonels to their second boys' regional title and first since 2013.
Third-seeded CovCath rallied to beat fourth-seeded Beechwood, 3-1 in an expected boys' final. Scores were 140-151, 168-151, 186-136, 152-145.
Cooper was the top-seeded boys squad with a score of 1,113. Dixie Heights was the second seed at 1,050. Both teams fell in the semifinals.
CovCath's Baker bowlers were Adam Zimmerman, Jake Wieger, Tommy Smith, Joe Wuesterfeld and Jeff Huston, brother of the NDA's Huston sisters. The three siblings are triplets.
"I'm happy for us but I'm probably more happy for Notre Dame," the elder Wagner said. "I'm happy for my son, who was a junior when CovCath last won the region, and I'm happy for the girls. They've never been to state."
CovCath celebrated the big win on a bus heading to Washington D.C. for Friday's March For Life. The Colonels were presented the regional championship trophy at 7:45 p.m. They hit the road for D.C. at 8:30.
"It's crazy. I love it," said Zimmerman, who won the boys' regional singles crown Tuesday. "It feels great to bring home two regional championships to Covington Catholic."
Runner-up Beechwood also qualified for state, making school history. Its top five include PJ Rump, Paul Alley, Raegan Alley, Logan Bolton and Jack Rademacher.
"This was our first regional final ever," Rump said. "Going to state is a first for Beechwood."
Region 6 Girls Bowling Team Tournament at Super Bowl Erlanger.
Seeding: 1. Boone County 1,069, 2. Notre Dame Academy 910, 3. Cooper 871, 4. St. Henry 866, 5. Holy Cross 761, 6. Dixie Heights 708, 7. Beechwood 695, 8. Lloyd 664.
Quarterfinals: Boone County def. Lloyd 3-0 (156-92, 148-109, 183-116), Holy Cross def. St. Henry 3-2 (145-119, 113-126, 132-99, 99-105, 168-131), Cooper def. Dixie Heights 3-1 (147-158, 167-129, 158-98, 128-122), Notre Dame Academy def. Beechwood 3-1 (141-89, 152-123, 127-139, 154-152).
Semifinals: Boone County def. Holy Cross 3-0 (176-110, 231-138, 183-133), Notre Dame Academy def. Cooper 3-2 (168-139, 146-146, 150-133, 128-168, 147-140).
Final: Boone County def. Notre Dame Academy 3-0 (170-138, 158-109, 175-131).
Region 6 Boys Bowling Team Tournament at Super Bowl Erlanger.
Seeding: 1. Cooper 1,113, 2. Dixie Heights 1,050, 3. Covington Catholic 1,016, 4. Beechwood 962, 5. Boone County 936, 6. St. Henry 882, 7. Holy Cross 859, 8. Lloyd 799.
Quarterfinals: Cooper def. Lloyd 3-0 (153-93, 174-156, 181-160), Beechwood def. Boone County 3-1 (185-177, 171-169, 158-159, 180-138), Covington Catholic def. St. Henry 3-0 (149-90, 126-122, 136-90), Dixie Heights def. Holy Cross 3-0 (199-128, 204-146, 189-114).
Semifinals: Beechwood def. Cooper 3-2 (160-183, 191-175, 156-205, 184-178, 221-147), Covington Catholic def. Dixie Heights 3-1 (168-224, 257-179, 188-167, 202-186).
Final: Covington Catholic def. Beechwood, 3-1 (140-151, 168-151, 186-136, 152-145).