BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: Both the girls’ and boys’ Bowling Teams at Stanhope Elmore.
The bowling teams of Stanhope Elmore High School have been receiving high praise with two recent events.
The SEHS Girls’ bowling team was invited to the Elmore County Commission meeting Monday, to be recognized on their 2024 6A/7A State Championship. They made it through the entire season undefeated.
Bowling Bridget Wilson, along with her husband Kenny, who serves as Assistant Coach for the girls and Head Coach for the boys, both thanked the Commission for their continued support to the youth of Elmore County.
“Thank you for investing in our youth,” Bridget Wilson said. “We could not do it without the support of you and people like you in the county.”
Bridget said her team is extremely special, and she loves all of them. Among them, is her own daughter who is a senior this year.
Two members on the team began playing in seventh grade. In the last few years, the team has competed very well, and came just a little short of a state championship. Bridget said the team continued to persevere, and it is hard to explain how much this historic win means not just to the players, but Elmore County as well. This is the first bowling team in the county’s history to bring home a state championship.
Every Commissioner heaped high praise on the bowlers, saying they have truly represented Elmore County well.
Of the three seniors on the team, all received scholarship opportunities. Peyton Warner has signed a scholarship to Mount Mercy in Iowa. Two others were offered scholarships to the University of Mobile but are pursuing other interests. They are Alyssa Ward and Samantha Wilson.
Younger team members are sophomore Chassity Abbott and freshmen Mya Taylor and Madison Morgan.
Commissioner Desirae Lewis Jackson wished the seniors the best of luck in whatever they pursue.
Commissioner Henry Hines acknowledged the incredible work of the team as a whole, and the dedication of the coaches. “You have created some amazing memories, and it will last for a long time.”
Commissioner Mack Daugherty said he has been amazed at the number of state champions that have come from Elmore County in various events.
“Having an 18-0 record is as impressive as it gets,” Daugherty said. “I want to thank your Superintendent Richard Dennis for having this program. There are a lot of schools that don’t, and I am thrilled that Elmore County and Stanhope Elmore does. The whole county is very proud of you.”
Supt. Dennis and Stanhope Elmore High Principal Ewell Fuller were both present at the meeting to show their support.
Last week both female and male bowling teams were in the spotlight at a School Board meeting held at the SEHS Atrium.
Aside from the girls’ team winning the championship, the boys’ team also did well, despite a lot of struggles. They went into regional competition undefeated.
The Boys’ team is made up of Seniors Jimmy Howell, Alex Caylor and Tyler Davis. Juniors are John Howell, Bradley Morgan and CJ Allen. Sophomore player is Ryan Best and Freshman player is Seth Wilson. The eighth graders are Bradley Hanby, Drake Abbot and Alex Gilbert. Seventh grade member is Isaac Knapp.
She spoke to the large crowd at SEHS last week saying the boys had not been to regional competition since Covid.
“They made it to Regionals this year undefeated and took second place. That is huge. Because they struggled. As a young team none of these boys had ever made it to state. They would make it to Regionals and then get knocked out. Kenny instilled in them a belief in themselves and let them make decisions.
“I think was nerves that got the best of them. They had a mountain to climb. We are super proud of them. We have a lot of young bowlers we are raising up.”
Coach Bridget Wilson joked with Principal Fuller, about what he thinks of the state championship trophy for the girls, carrying like it is his baby. Few would argue that Fuller is the greatest cheerleader for academics and athletics at SEHS.
