Area roundup: Oregon’s Kaltenbrun bowls his way to state finals

Oregon's Isaac Kaltenbrun celebrates a strike as he competes at the Hawk Claissc at Plum Hollow on Saturday.

Oregon’s Isaac Kaltenbrun used a huge final game at the Hononegah Sectional on Saturday to bowl his way into the IHSA state meet next weekend in O’Fallon, becoming the third Hawk to qualify for state twice in a career.

Kaltenbrun was 80 pins out of the final individual advancing spot heading into his sixth game, and proceeded to roll a 266 to make up the deficit. He finished with a six-game pinfall of 1,281, good for 12th place overall, and the seventh and final advancing spot for individuals.

Kaltenbrun opened the day with games of 245 and 218 in a morning-session 646 series, and finished with a 635 afternoon series after his monster sixth game. He was the only local to qualify for state.

Sterling’s Andrew Doughty finished with a 1,265 six-game series, good for 16th overall, but eighth among individuals not on the top six advancing teams. He had a huge morning series, rolling games of 222, 226 and 248 for a 696, and rolled a 569 series in the afternoon, with a 225 second game.

The Golden Warriors competed as a team, and placed 14th with a 5,581. They sat in fourth place after the first two games of the day, and were in fifth following the morning session, but couldn’t keep it going in the afternoon.

Sterling’s Ethan Melcher rolled a 1,160 six-game series, including games of 245 in the morning and 256 in the afternoon. Dylan Doss had a 1,125, starting his morning session with games of 224 and 214, then rolling a 222 in the second afternoon game. Tristan Oelrichs opened his 1,029 series with a 206 first game, and Brenden Stanley added a 1,002 series for the Golden Warriors.

Oregon’s other bowler at the sectional was Brandon Rowe, and he finished with a 1,011 six-game series. He ended on a high note, rolling a 203 game in the finale.

Erie-Prophetstown’s Michael Miner bowled a 1,068, closing his season with games of 211 and 200 to end the afternoon session.

Dixon had a pair of freshman bowl as individuals. David Laird rolled a 980 series with a 192 high game, and Cody Geil had a 968 series with a 193 high game.

Harlem led the whole way and won the team title with a 6,516. Belvidere North was second (6,147) and Freeport took third (6,036), while Hononegah (5,939), Huntley (5,910) and South Elgin (5,880) grabbed the other three qualifying spots.

Lakes senior Phillip Heuser won the individual title with a 1,385, bowling games of 224, 224 and 245 in the morning, then 245, 255 and 192 in the afternoon. Hononegah’s Charlie Hunt was runner-up (1,361), and Harlem’s Eric Roberts took third (1,347).

Boys swimming

Sterling takes title in East Moline: The Water Warriors won the 40th annual Panther Invite at United Township High School, claiming the title at the event for just the second time in school history.

Sterling scored 247 points to defeat runner-up Normal Community (233) by 14. Moline was third (209), Galesburg finished fourth (190), and Byron rounded out the top five (116).

Reiley Austin and Michael Garland both won an individual event and swam on two winning relays for the Warriors. Austin took the 100 backstroke (55.75 seconds), and Garland won the 100 breaststroke (1:02.96). The duo also teamed with Braeden Ruiz and Skylar Drolema to win the 200 medley relay (1:43.28), and joined Drolema and Mason Adams to take the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.83).

Ruiz was runner-up to Garland in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.54), while Austin and Garland each added a third-place finish, Austin in the 100 freestyle (49.07) and Garland in the 200 IM (2:07.07). Adams swam to third in the 200 freestyle (1:53.24).

Drolema added a pair of fourths in the 50 freestyle (23.33) and 100 butterfly (56.38), and the quartet of Luke Clark, Peter Garland, Adams and Ruiz finished fourth in the 400 free relay (3:33.94). Ruiz placed fifth in the 200 IM (2:12.28), and Conner Porter finished fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:17.66).

Dixon senior Carson Faley led the Byron co-op with runner-up finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:46.45) and 500 free (4:49.54), and he teamed with Levi Schamper, Tyson Politsch and Caleb Weekley to place third in the 200 medley relay (1:47.10) and fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:35.87).

Politsch added a third in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.71) and a fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:53.25), while Schamper took third in the 100 butterfly (56.28) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (58.45).

Boys basketball

Liberty 62, Dixon 48: The Dukes made a last-minute addition to their schedule, but lost to Liberty at the Quincy Shootout

Jacob Gaither scored 22 points for Dixon (11-7), and Riley Abell added 13.

Warren 64, Oregon 30: The Hawks were outscored 18-1 in the second quarter of a nonconference loss to the Warriors at the Blackhawk Center.

Nathan Bell had 11 points to pace Oregon, and Carter Marlatt and Isaac Reber finished with five points apiece.

Brayden Bohnsack scored 17 points for Warren, with Michael Neff adding 13, Tyler VenHuizen finishing with 11, and Reed McNutt chipping in 10.

Morrison 63, Alleman 33: The Mustangs jumped out to a 21-4 lead through the first quarter and rolled to a nonconference win in Rock Island.

Andre McQueen poured in 21 points for Morrison, while Alex Anderson and Trey Strating both finished with 14 points. Mason Dykstra added nine for the Mustangs.

Lincoln Dorsey hit four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points to pace the Pioneers, and Ryan Schmitt scored nine.

Riverdale 64, Fulton 54: The Steamers suffered just their second loss, falling in a nonconference game in Port Byron. Fulton is now 19-2 on the season.

Stockton 52, Amboy 28: The Clippers went into halftime trailing just 24-20, but were outscored 28-8 in the second half of an NUIC crossover loss on the road.

Brennan Blaine’s 13 points led Amboy, and Kyler McNinch scored 10.

Caleb Mammoser had 12 points, and Ian Broshous finished with 11 for the Blackhawks.

Earlville 74, AFC 51: The Raiders trailed 24-15 after one quarter and 45-29 by halftime in a nonconference loss on the road.

Carson Rueff scored 16 points, and Lane Koning added 13 for AFC. Aaron Lester scored seven, and Griffin Bushman hit two 3-pointers for six points.

Garrett Cook had 19 points, and Griffin Cook added 18 for Earlville. Ryan Browder scored 16, and Bryar Keller finished with 14.

Winnebago 66, Forreston 34: The Cardinals trailed 22-13 after the opening quarter and 45-21 by halftime, then were outscored 18-4 in the third quarter in a nonconference road loss.

Tommy Appel had 10 points for Forreston (5-12), and Dylan Greenfield finished with five.

Carl Firch scored 25 points for Winnebago, and Ray Maurchie added 17.

Girls basketball

Polo 63, Amboy 58: The Marcos handed the Clippers their first NUIC South loss of the season, grabbing a 34-18 lead by halftime and holding off a second-half surge by Amboy.

Lindee Poper had 24 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks for Polo, while Kadence Sheaffer finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Nicole Boelens added 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists, Natalie Nelson had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Madelyn Jones chipped in six points on two 3-pointers, and also dished four assists.

Olivia Dinges poured in a game-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds and three steals for Amboy (14-7, 5-1). Elly Jones added 11 points, six assists and three steals, Haidyn Zimmerly had 10 points, Courtney Ortgiesen scored seven, and Maeve Larson chipped in two points, six rebounds and three steals.

Eastland 58, Milledgeville 25: The Cougars rallied from a 14-13 deficit after one quarter, outscoring the Missiles 17-5 in the second period and 19-2 in the third in an NUIC South road win.

Chloe Sweitzer had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Annika Myre added 11 points, three assists and two steals for Eastland (9-10, 5-1). Quinc Haverland had eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Addison Burkholder chipped in six points, seven assists and four steals.

Rylee Matthews had eight points and five rebounds for Milledgeville, and Olivia Schurman added seven points and three rebounds. Brooklyn Balsiger scored five points for the Missiles.

Riverdale 52, Fulton 32: The Steamers couldn’t keep up with the Rams in a nonconference loss in Port Byron.

Kylie Smither had 10 points and eight rebounds for Fulton, and Miraya Pessman added eight points and three steals.

West Carroll 38, Forreston 19: The Thunder pulled away from a 16-13 halftime lead with a 15-0 scoring edge in the third quarter in an NUIC crossover contest in Savanna.

Kylie Hill had 16 points, four rebounds and four steals for West Carroll. Tori Moshure finished with five points, four rebounds, seven steals and three assists, Kendal Asay added five points, nine rebounds and two steals, and Cora Collins chipped in four points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Thunder.

Jenna Greenfield finished with seven points for Forreston, while Letrese Buisker scored four. Brooke Boettner and Kelli Larson added three points each.

Wrestling

Kested takes title in Clinton: Sterling’s Drew Kested won the 145-pound title at the Bob Lueders Tournament in Clinton, Iowa, winning the title bout 3-0 over Linn-Mar (Iowa)’s Grant Kress.

Linn-Mar, out of Cedar Rapids, won the team title with 190 points, ahead of Lisbon (175.5), Fort Dodge (171.5) and Milton (167) – all Iowa high schools – while Lena-Winslow/Stockton finished fifth (142). Sterling placed 11th (69), Erie-Prophetstown took 13th (55.5), and Fulton tied for 16th (41).

Kested was the only local champion. The Golden Warriors also got a sixth place from Zyon Westbrook at 113 pounds, a seventh from Javier Luna at 195, and an eighth from Gage Tate at 160.

Erie-Prophetstown’s top finisher was Andrew Bomleny, who took third at 195. Wyatt Goossens was fourth at 113, Elijah Friedrichsen finished fifth at 285, Jase Grunder was seventh at 145, and Jacob Gibson placed eighth at 120.

Fulton got a pair of fifth-place finishes from Ben Fosdick (138) and Xander Walling (220), while Zane Pannell placed sixth at 170.

Ty Reynolds

Ty Reynolds

Ty is the Sports Editor at Sauk Valley Media, and has covered sports in the Sauk Valley for more than two decades.