by Frank Aceto

Associate Sports Editor

Hudson head girls bowling coach Tucker Bethem received the schedule from his assistant coach, John Brockway, prior to the season.

As he studied the schedule carefully, Bethem might have gasped.

“John put the day of the state tournament on the schedule,” he said. “He thought we had a pretty good team, but we weren’t thinking about the state tournament at the beginning of the season.”

He can’t stop himself from thinking about it now.

The Lady Explorers captured eighth place at the state competition March 6 at Shawnee Lanes in Chillicothe.

Hudson qualified for the championship round, which included the top eight teams. The eighth-seeded Lady Explorers lost to the top-seeded team, Westerville Central, which eventually placed second to second-seeded Youngstown Boardman.

Hudson, however, made Westerville Central sweat a little bit.

After Westerville Central won the first baker game by a 174-166 score, the Lady Explorers posted a 160-150 win in the second game.

Westerville Central turned it up in the notch in the final two games with 237-157 and 203-178 victories.

Hudson posted a score of 3,173 to advance to the championship round.

Junior Natalie Briganti led the Lady Explorers with a 22nd-place score of 589 (208-213-168) in the individual standings.

Junior Kayla Meehan placed second for Hudson with a 34th-place score of 545 (174-196-175).

Also contributing for the Lady Explorers were senior Mindy Meredith (50th, 193-156-177) and seniors Samantha Kachele (64th, 182-165-157) and Libby Wasserbauer (76th, 143-170-157).

“The girls did a lot of bowling,” Bethem said. “I think they got a little tired. The reason why we made it to the championship round is because we were so balanced. No one really overshadowed anybody else.”

To say Hudson had a breakthrough season would be a vast understatement.

The Lady Explorers reached the state tournament for the first time and started off 10-0 this season.

Hudson ran into a little bit of a wall before it turned it up a notch during the postseason.

“We kind of slumped in the middle of the season and then we really put it together when it counted,” Bethem said.

Bethem, who has been the Lady Explorers head coach for nine years, had an enjoyable two-day trip.

The day before the tournament, the Hudson players and coaches celebrated Bethem’s 38th birthday.

“The girls and their parents helped me celebrate,” he said.

Kachele, Wasserbauer and Meredith concluded their careers in Chillicothe.

“Sam has been bowling for a long time,” Bethem said. “She has been our anchor the entire season. Libby really improved this year. She started rolling the ball really well at the end of the season.Mindy really appreciated the sport more this year. I was surprised how happy she was to bowl at the state tournament.”

Briganti leads a promising 2010-11 squad.

“Our underclassmen have to fill some big shoes,” Bethem said. “Natalie and Kayla had great seasons, but they can still improve. I am so proud of the girls. They had a great season.”

E-mail: faceto@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3914