ROCKINGHAM — A record setting single-game score by sophomore bowler Ava Thompson has named her the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
Participating in the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament last week, Thompson bowled well in both the singles and team events. She was a finalist in the singles tournament and helped Richmond take third place as a team.
As she prepares for the individual and state tournaments later this week, this is Thompson’s second career recognition. She also earned it once during her freshman year.
Athletic Profile
Year: Sophomore
Winter Sport: Bowling
Years on Varsity: 2 Years
Positon: No. 2 Bowler
Other Sports: Soccer
“HEADING TO STATES” WITH AVA THOMPSON
The Lady Raiders continued an historic season when they bowled in the SAC championship last Wednesday in Aberdeen. Entering as the No. 1 seed with 57.5 points, it was the first time Richmond had won the regular-season title.
As the lone underclassman on the team this winter, Thompson finished the day as one of four Lady Raiders to earn All-SAC honors. Joining her were senior teammates Rylie Bohman, Addison Massey and Cadence Thompson.
In the singles tournament, Thompson finished atop the leaderboard with a three-game combined score of 516 pins. During her first game, she also set a program record (boys or girls) with a final tally of 278 pins.
Thompson knocked down nine pins in the first frame and followed that with 10 consecutive strikes. In the extra frame in the 10th, she added nine more pins.
Moving on to the championship roll-off, Thompson’s efforts came up short against No. 4 Catherine Vierwinden of Pinecrest High School.
As the top seed in the team tournament, Richmond received a bye but lost in the semifinals to No. 4 Union Pines. The best-of-three game series went to the Lady Vikings 2-0.
Thompson served as the third bowler in the lineup and collected two spares and 18 more pins in her four total frames.
Facing No. 3 Hoke County High School in the third-place match, the Lady Raiders won 2-1 behind scores of 111-134, 157-115 and 152-129. In that match, Thompson had two strikes, two spares and contributed 17 pins in her other two frames.
The Lady Raiders and Thompson will compete in the state championship tournament, both singles and team events, this Friday in Aberdeen.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH AVA THOMPSON
In her interview, Thompson discusses her program record score of 278 pins, how she hopes to do at states and shares what she’s looking forward to this spring.
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.
