Gibbs returns to state in Unified bowling

By Steve Williams

Gibbs High is going to the state tournament again this year in Unified bowling.

Four teams competed in the Upper East Tennessee Sectional qualifier for that honor Friday at the Strike & Spare Fountain Lanes in Fountain City.

Dobyns-Bennett won the Sectional championship and Gibbs was runner-up. Both will be in the state tourney Friday at the Smyrna Bowling Center.

Hardin Valley and Karns also competed in the Sectional.

Each of the teams bowled two baker games versus another team and the highest team total of the two games was the winner. Each team consisted of one athlete and two partners.

Gibbs defeated Hardin Valley 249 to 198 and Dobyns-Bennett defeated Karns in the first two matches to reach the championship match.

D-B beat Gibbs 275 to 201 in the finals.

Dobyns-Bennett earned its state tourney berth by winning the region.

Gibbs also earned a state berth by having one of the three next best game scores of the other 19 teams that tried to qualify across the state.

Seniors Gabe Guess and Maven Dykes were the athletes on Gibbs’ Unified team, while seniors Isaiah Martinez and Dalton Tipton competed as partners.

“This is the fourth time in the last five years that Gibbs has qualified for the state tournament,” said Head Coach Keith McElroy. “The team had a school record 151 pin fall game total in one of their baker games.

“As a coach, I am very proud of how these players stepped up today and performed today. We are very proud of our Unified Sports teams here at Gibbs and take pride in qualifying for state events.”