COLUMBUS — The Bellefontaine girls bowling team capped off the 2024-25 season with a fifth-place finish in the Division I state tournament Friday at HP Lanes in Columbus.
Senior Haylee Yelton had the best overall three-games series at 699 to claim the individual state champion award. She had an opening game of 221, followed by ones of 213 and 265.
In the preliminary round, which consisted of three regulation games and five Baker games, the Lady Chieftains were third with a total of 3,738.
The three regular games had scores of 875, 937 and 1,004. In the Baker round, they had scores of 192, 187, 213, 140 and 190 for a total of 922.
Nevaeh LaFollette rolled a 621, with games of 138, 214 and 269. She was 12th overall. Gracie Hood had a 598 (193-237-168), Chloe Heminger had 499 (149-166-184), and Avery Mullins had a 174 first game.
The top eight teams advanced to the championship bracket, with matches of Baker games in a best-of-five format. Bellefontaine faced Fairmont in the quarterfinals. Fairmont won the first game 197-180, with the Chieftains taking game two 154-140. Fairmont went back ahead with a 192-145 win in game three. Bellefontaine forced a tiebreaker with a 165-163 win in the fourth round. Fairmont then took the deciding game 236-177.
Vandalia Butler took the team title, defeating Massillon Perry in the championship. Celina was third, and Fairmont fourth.
After Bellefontaine, it was Beavercreek, Green and Wapakoneta rounding out the top eight.
“Our season is not over. We are going to go to the National High School bowling tournament in June,” said Coach Jane Kline. “Congratulations again to this team. I am so proud of them and their accomplishments.”