Boys Bowling: Richards Places 9th in State Tourney, Completes Sweep of Oak Lawn

For the third week in a row, Richards and Oak Lawn hooked up in a boys bowling dual.

No, they didn't walk across the street to carry on their neighborhood rivalry.

They happily made the trek downstate to compete in the IHSA state tournament Friday and Saturday at St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon.

Richards completed a conference, sectional and state tournament sweep of Oak Lawn by returning home with a ninth-place finish following two sizzling days of bowling.

The Bulldogs, led by juniors David Walker and Andrew Byland, finished with a pinfall total of 12,007 and were 814 pins off the pace of state champion Andrew (12,821).

Walker finished with a 12-game pinfall total of 2,574 and placed 19th individually to pace Richards. He posted a 214.5 average over the two days of bowling. Byland pushed him every step of the way with his 2,522 total and 28th place finish (210.2 average).

Richards also picked up contributions from Rick Strache (2,446), Zak Engstrom (2,331), Cody Woods (1,284, 6 games), Akeem Myers (711, 4 games) and Steven Grant (139, 1 game). Mike Lively served as the Bulldogs' alternate.

Oak Lawn was ousted from the fray on Friday after compiling a team pinfall total of 5,623 and placing 22nd—not enough to survive the cut.

The Spartans were led by Ken VandeWerken (1,684), Ryan Campin (1,107), Cody Marek (1,079), Dan Pfister (1,076), Mike Pontrelli (639, 3 games), Adam Quiroz (558, 3 games). Kyle Rodda and Cody Hanson served as alternates.