MORENCI — The Morenci bowling team is in an unusual position this year — that of having the entire team graduate at once.
Seniors Connor Johns and Jonathan Minturn were the only Bulldog bowlers this season, in the third year since bowling was added back to Morenci’s sports program.
Following six regular-season matches — two each against Britton Deerfield, Summerfield, and Sand Creek — the boys competed in a single scratch tournament in Blissfield on Feb. 9. This was followed by the Tri-County Conference Tournament on Feb. 21, then by MHSAA Regionals at Jax 60 in Jackson, where both Johns and Minturn placed in the top 50.
Minturn had a high game of 222 this year, the highest from a Morenci high school bowler since Dayli Lemmon started coaching in the 2022-23 school year.
The team’s numbers have gone up and down, with four bowlers in her first year and seven the second, before this year’s two-man team. It was Minturn’s third year on the team and Johns’ second.
“Even with just the two boys, they were never discouraged,” Lemmon said. “They went in and bowled their best every time, and I couldn’t have been happier.”