While the entire team did not make it, Columbia High School boys bowlers Cameron Touchette and Spencer Jerome will represent the Eagles in the IHSA State Bowling Final this weekend at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon.

Touchette, who placed seventh in the state last year as a freshman, and Jerome qualified for state as individuals during the sectional tourney held over the weekend. As a team, the Eagles missed making the cut for state by just five pins.

Jerome posted a 221 per game average at sectionals, while Touchette averaged a 218.

Waterloo’s Hayden Bode and  Troy Aldridge and Gibault’s Caleb Weiler also bowled at sectionals, but did not advance.

On Monday, the CHS boys bowlers defeated Lebanon to improve to 9-3 on the season.

Touchette and Dallas Schroeder were the top bowlers of the day (both with a 748 series), with Jerome not far behind.

Meanwhile, the Waterloo High School boys bowlers are first in the conference and sit at 13-2 overall following a recent win over Civic Memorial.

Joe Baldwin led the way for the boys with a 711 series against CM.

If the Bulldogs win today (Wednesday) at West Park Bowl against Roxana, they will finish as conference champs for the fourth straight year.

The Gibault boys bowlers won recent matches against Lebanon and Althoff, with Weiler leading the way. He rolled games of 248 and 209 in the Althoff win.

On the girls side, both Waterloo and Columbia are enjoying amazing seasons heading into the regional tourney to be held Feb. 8.

The Waterloo girls are undefeated at 12-0 following Thursday’s win over Civic Memorial. Gabbie Hoge rolled a 627 series to lead her team.  The team still has a couple of upcoming matches to determine the conference title.

“It looks very promising that MVC conference champs will be in their future for the first time in school history,” head coach Matt Beck said.

Not to be outdone, the Columbia girls are 9-1-1 on the season following Monday’s win over Lebanon preceded by a Thursday victory over Cahokia and a tie last Wednesday against Freeburg.

Peyton Schmidt and Miranda Rodenhofer have bowled well of late to lead the Eagles.

The Gibault girls bowlers lost to Lebanon on Jan. 16 and to Althoff on Thursday. Julianna Hollman and Veronica Southworth have helped keep the team competitive of late.