Local high school girls bowling teams competed in the Columbia Regional at West Park Bowl on Saturday with a common goal of reaching the sectional round.

For Waterloo, that goal was met by virtue of a third place finish. But all was not lost for the Columbia, Gibault and Dupo squads, as each advanced at least one player to the sectional.

For the Bulldogs, Saturday’s showing was yet another accomplishment in a fantastic season. Waterloo is 13-0 as a team, including a perfect 10-0 in Mississippi Valley Conference play.

“I could not be prouder of the talent that we have and the growth that we have made as a team this year,” Waterloo head coach Matt Beck said. “This group of girls works very well together and it shows.”

Waterloo posted a total score of 5,735 at West Park Bowl, which placed third behind regional champion O’Fallon and second place Belleville East.

Just as she has most of this season, the Bulldogs were led by junior Makensy Umscheid. She bowled a six-game score of 1,227, which is a 204.5 per game average. Sam Matzig, a senior, bowled a 1,192, followed by sophomore Lexi Ruemker at 1,170 and junior Kristen Goersch at 1,155. Also bowling for Waterloo were Kaylee Menner and Mikayla VanVeghel.

“The girls did very well at regionals on Saturday, posting averages that were higher than our season averages,” Beck said. “They did a good job of picking each other up as well.  When one member was struggling, the other girls would pick up the slack and carry the lower score.”

Waterloo will compete as a team at Saturday’s Carterville Sectional. Joining them will be Columbia bowlers Peyton Schmidt and Meagan Odum, Gibault bowler Taylor Hoylman and Dupo bowler Courtney Argus.

For Argus, Saturday’s regional served as a showcase for her talent. She advanced to state last year and looks well on her way to doing so again.

Argus rolled a six-game total of 1,412 on Saturday, which was just six pins back of the overall champion.

“She performed very well,” Dupo head coach Leonard Aldridge said.

In fact, the Dupo squad was in the running for a sectional berth until an injured bowler dashed those hopes.

“One of our bowlers hurt her finger the day before and was in too much pain to finish, so we had to finish the day with four bowlers,” Aldridge said.

Dupo freshman Emily Concialdi just missed going to the sectional by one place.

Columbia placed sixth as a team with a score of 5,246. Leading the way for the Eagles were Schmidt with a score of 1,246 and Odum with a score of 1,080.

“Peyton has held her average right at the 200 mark all season,” Columbia head coach Keith Jeffery said. “Meagan Odum has been averaging 190 for the last two weeks.”

While a young Gibault squad didn’t place very high overall, Hoylman posted a 1,140 score to earn a sectional berth.

“Taylor has been looking forward to the state championship series all year long. She has focused on executing a good first ball, then covering the spare if necessary,” Gibault head coach Tom Fanara said.

Those advancing past the sectional round will bowl in the state tournament, which will take place Feb. 19-20 in Rockford.

For photos from the regional, click here.