Area bowlers are heating up the lanes heading into Christmas break.

Columbia

After participating in back-to-back-to-back matches Dec. 10-12, then hitting the lanes again Dec. 17, the Eagles have a break until Jan. 7, when they will take on a tough Cahokia team for the second time this year.

In a Dec. 10 boys-only match-up against Mater Dei, Columbia pulled out a 25-15 victory to extend their record to 3-0.

“(We) ran into a tough house, but stuck in there and rolled a couple of good games when it counted,” said head coach Bruce Jeffery.

On the day, Dallas Schroeder led the team with a 268 game and 687 series, while Cameron Touchette rolled a 234 game and had a 648 series.

The next day, Dec. 11, the Eagles traveled to Wesclin, where the boys and girls each added to their win records with the boys winning 26-14 to extend their record to 4-0 and the girls winning 39.5 to .5, extending their record to 3-0.

“(We) ran into another tough house, the complete opposite from Mater Dei, but stuck in there and rolled a couple of good games when it counted,” Jeffery said.

Touchette led the boys with a 692 series that included 239 and 236 games. On the girls side, the team earned 39.5 out of a possible 40 points.

But a trip to Cahokia Dec. 12 proved a more humbling experience for the Eagles.

The boys fell 38-2, and the girls lost 22-18.

“(We) ran into a really tough and hot Cahokia teams,” Jeffery said. “We weren’t as fortunate as the last match to pull this one out.”

Touchette again led the boys with a 693 series that included a 268 game, followed by Dallas Schroeder with a 654 series.

For the girls, Miranda Rodenhofer rolled a 592 series and Morgan Gleanzer had a 185 game.

Finally, on Dec. 17, the Eagles took on “really hot and tough” Freeburg teams, according to Jeffery, with the boys falling 33-7 and the girls winning 27.5 to 12.5.

“The results don’t really reflect the outcome of the boys varsity matches,” Jeffery said. “They were closer than they sound.”

Spencer Jerome led the boys with a 660 series on 237 and 235 games while Madison Pennington rolled a 207 game.

Gibault

After graduating their entire girls and boys teams in the past two years, the Hawks are in the midst of a rebuilding season, but head coach Tom Fanara sees promise in his young bowlers.

On Dec. 10, the Hawks hosted Freeburg, with the boys falling 26-14 and the girls falling 39-1.

Top scorers were Caleb Weiler, who rolled a 564 series, and Connor Meehan, who had a 563 series. On the girls squad, Julianna Hollman had the high game with 139.

Hosting Lebanon Dec. 12, the Hawks again struggled, with the boys losing 28.5 to 11.5, and the girls 36-6.

They are off until Jan. 8, when they travel to Cahokia.

Waterloo

The Bulldogs are currently sitting atop the Mississippi Valley Conference under the leadership of head coach Matt Beck, following wins over East Alton/Wood River, Triad and Jersey Community High School.

On Dec. 9, the ‘Dogs boys and girls squads topped East Alton/ Wood River, extending their records to 4-1 and 3-0 on the season, respectively.

High scorers were Michael McGarry with a 236 and Gabbie Hoge with a 258.

They hosted conference foe Triad Dec. 11, with the boys and girls once again coming out on top.

Hayden Bode, who rolled a perfect game early in the season, had a 715 series. Hoge again led the girls with a 245 game.

Following a short break thanks to recent winter weather, the ‘Dogs hosted Jersey Community High Dec. 17, again taking home victories for the boys and girls and securing first place in the MVC.

They don’t have much of a break, as they will travel to the Alton Invitational Dec. 23, the Panther Invitational at O’Fallon Jan. 4, and host Metro-East Lutheran Jan. 6.