Ishpeming-Negaunee sophomore Killian Ryan shows his form at the foul line that allowed him to throw nine strikes in a row for a high game of 267 during an Upper Peninsula high school bowling match held at Superior Lanes in Marquette on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Maria Virch)

MARQUETTE — Boys and girls teams from Marquette, Westwood, Ishpeming-Negaunee and L’Anse opened their high school bowling seasons at Superior Lanes in Marquette on Saturday.

Each participating school — which also includes Escanaba, Gladstone, Calumet and Menominee — is fielding multiple teams in the U.P. conference this season.

Matches have two teams bowl against each other with a combination of Baker-style games and regular bowling. Baker games include all five bowlers alternating frames to come up with a single-game score.

One set of matches pitted teams from the host Sentinels against Westwood.

The Patriots boys defeated MSHS 36-4, while the Westwood girls prevailed 40-0. In addition, the Marquette “C” team won 28-12 over Westwood “C,” while the Patriots “D” group upended the Sentinels “D” 33.5-6.5.

Ishpeming-Negaunee posted a three-match sweep of Calumet, winning the boys match 31-9, the girls 40-0 and the “C” match 30.5-9.5.

Gladstone scored a sweep of L’Anse, the Braves girls winning 27.5-12.5, the boys 34.5-5.5 and the “C” squads 39-1.

In the other conference match, Escanaba swept Menominee, the boys 27-13 and the girls 40-0.

The top score of the day as reported by Marquette assistant coach Maria Virch was Ishpeming-Negaunee sophomore Killian Ryan stringing nine strikes in a row to shoot a 267 game.

In addition, other top boys scores included Gladstone senior Matt Meyer shooting 229, I-N freshman Aries Korsman 224, Westwood junior Roman Yuhas 222, Escanaba junior Brian Boutilier 219, Westwood sophomore Camden Grover 213 and I-N senior Tyler Edwards 213.

The top girls game reported was Westwood junior Olivia Letson with 201, while the I-N girls also posted a Baker game of 204, an impressive feat as Baker high games are often hard to come by.

The U.P. conference moves onto a split day this Saturday at two of the smaller bowling centers on its schedule. Some teams will be at the Whirl-I-Gig in L’Anse and others at Miller’s Recreation in Laurium. Shifts will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.