GRAY DEYOSports Writer

In what has been an amazing season for the THS bowling team, their season has officially come to a close. They lost in the semi-finals of the state tournament to Mt. Juliet High School, losing 20-7.

Hardin County

What an amazing road it has been for this Wildcats bowling squad getting to the state tourney. They had many memorable wins throughout the 2025-206 season. This includes them beating Summit High School in the regional semis, beating Lawrence County to go undefeated in the regular season, but no win may have been greater than their first-round win at state.

Tullahoma drew an undefeated Hardin County team in round one and managed to deliver them their first loss all season, winning the match by a score of 21-6.

In game one of two for the Wildcats against Hardin Co., this Tullahoma team showed they were ready for the moment. They combined for 1,046 pins, with Britton Perry and Jordyn Pilkington setting the standard for the match, both rolling scores over 200 pins. Pilkington rolled a score of 202 pins, while Perry rolled a 210.

Hardin Co. only rolled a combined 998 in their first game, and were going to need to quickly correct the course on their match outlook with some big scores in game two. They ended up doing just this.

The opposing Tigers in game two had three scores over 200. Their highest score in this was a 233, coming from one of their bowlers, Haeden Ditto. Unfortunately for them, the Wildcats matched their output and produced three scores over 200 of their own. These scores came from Connor Deluceney (228), JT Brooks (214), and Korbin Thompson (202).

These Wildcats’ efforts helped shut down any momentum the Tigers picked up from the second game, tying the pin scoring in this section of the match at 1,208. Tullahoma went on to win both the baker’s games rather comfortably, setting them up for the match win against Hardin Co. and advancing them to the semi-finals of state to take on Mt. Juliet.

Mt. Juliet

It was clear at the start of this match that Mt Juliet was one of the toughest teams the Wildcats had played in the entirety of their season. The opposing Bears combined for six scores of 200 or higher in their opening two games, compared to the Wildcats’ five. These scores of 200 or higher for Tullahoma came from Perry (204), Jensen Rodgers (208), and twice from Brooks (209, 210), and Pilkington (225). One of Mt Juliet’s bowlers, Camden Downs, ended up rolling the highest score of the match, a 253.

Tullahoma, who has played at the same level as Mt. Juliet was displaying in the semis at moments this season, was just unable to reach it, as their run at a state title came to an end.  The Tigers went on to play Siegel High School in the state championship and lost by a score of 22-5.

Congratulations to the Tullahoma boys’ bowling team on an amazing season that saw them go to the state tourney for the first time since 2020. With a bunch of returning players on this 2025-2026 team for next season, it would be no means surprising to see the success they had continue.