IAC BOWLING: CANDOR LOOKS TO BE COMPETITIVE (2021-01-11)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — IAC bowlers are facing some interesting changes this season, but if things add up for new coach Michael Siegel, a high school math teacher, Candor could boast some competitive teams.

The league has decided to compete virtually, so teams will bowl on their home lanes and compare scores with that day's opponent. Candor, which opens Tuesday against Newark Valley, will roll at Owego Bowl. The IAC has also banned spectators from all matches. Mask must also be worn at all practices and matches.

Siegel replaces 2020 Tioga County Girls Coach of the Year Aria French, who took over last season for long-time coach Steve Frye, who retired.

The Indians are relatively young with one senior and five juniors on their boys and girls rosters. Ten of the Indians' 17 bowlers are freshmen or 7th- and 8th-graders.

Veterans Garrett Lindhorst, Matthew Fitch and Kody Floyd lead the boys while Mya Marsh, Olivia Bennett and Kaitlyn Floyd head the defending IAC Division 2 champion girls squad.

Siegel is having his keglers create goals for areas such as high game and high series while looking for each team to post a winning percentage above .500. He is also looking for each team to qualify for sectionals this year.

One highlight for Candor could be the addition of the brother-sister duo of Joey and Janelle Marsh, who are transitioning from basketball to bowling.

"Excited to see some big games and series out of them," Siegel said.

GIRLS
The Indians also posted third-place showings in the IAC tournament and Section IV Class D championships, and took sixth at the Section IV Division 2 state qualifier.

Mya Marsh, a junior, carried a team-best 167 average, and had the high series last year with a 600 while her best game was a 232. Another junior, Olivia Bennett, chalked up personal bests of 206 and 524 and carried a 151 average. Eighth-grader Kaitlyn Floyd posted a 147 average, rolled the Indians' high game, a 244, and had a 565 series to her credit.

Marsh and Bennett were named to the 2019-20 All-Tioga County team and Floyd was an honorable mention. Marsh was also selected to the 2018-19 All-Tioga County squad.

At the IAC championships, Marsh rolled a 525 series and Bennett registered a 524 as the Indians finished fifth in the 13-team event. Individually, Marsh and Bennett placed ninth and 10th, respectively.

Floyd posted a 601 series, good for second place (234 high game) as the Indians took third at the Class D tournament. Bennett's 561 series was good for fifth place and she had a high game of 215. Marsh rolled a 244 high game and was seventh with a 547 series.

Candor went on to compete in the state qualifier, placing sixth overall. Marsh posted a 1613 total pinfall, Floyd rolled a 1604 and Bennett ended up with a 1540.

Junior Elly Hatton (148-325), freshman Julia Dunham (155-360) return to the squad which went 33-7, edging Groton by one point for the Division 2 crown.

The roster also includes sophomore Janelle Marsh, freshman Emma Knickerbocker and 7th-grader Calli Marsh.

BOYS
The Indians finished a respectable third in IAC Division 2 with a 28-12 mark, tiling only powerhouse Tioga (35-5) and a strong Groton (31 1/2-8 1/2) team.

Eighth-grader Kody Floyd led Candor with team-highs of a 248 game and 675 series, and 194 average. At the IAC championships, he posted a 585 series to place 14th. He was the runner-up at the Class D tournament, his 587 series falling just one pin shy of the top spot. Floyd rolled a 9-game 1827 series at the state qualifier, good for a 2303 average. He would also earn a spot on the 2019-20 All-Tioga County team.

Junior Garrett Lindhorst rolled top scores of 246 and 606 and had a 169 average. Sophomore Matthew Fitch had a 214 game, 584 series and 157 average to his credit.

Also back is freshman Aiden Jackson.

Looking to contribute this season are the lone senior, Joey Marsh, junior Will Zimmer, freshman Brayden Tuttle, 8th-grader Tyler Dunham, and 7th-graders Corbyn White and Will Dizer.

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IN PHOTO: Mya Marsh carried the top average for the Candor girls last season and led them to an IAC Division 2 championship.