L’ANSE — Junior Killian Ryan of the Ishpeming-Negaunee boys team rolled the highest score of the day at the Whirl-I-Gig in L’Anse during an Upper Peninsula Bowling Conference high school meet held Saturday.

About half of the conference teams were also competing at Miller’s Recreation in Laurium, including most Westwood teams, but scores weren’t available from that site.

Ryan bowled a 219 game, with a pair of Iron Mountain bowlers also exceeding that 200 “par” score — senior Joleigh Osieczonek had the girls best output at the ‘Gig with 215, while the Mountainers’ boys bowler Gavin DuBose had 200.

In the team matches, two Marquette teams and also a pair from I-N came out victorious.

Matches have 40 points available to win, most coming from “regular” scoring where five bowlers roll their own games, with 30% of the scoring coming in Baker-style games where teammates alternate frames to come up with a single-game score. All scoring is scratch, meaning there is no handicap introduced into the scores like in most regular recreational leagues.

The Marquette boys won 36-4 over Gladstone, while the Sentinels “X” team of extra bowlers beyond boys and girls teams took a 37-3 victory over the Braves.

In addition, the Gladstone girls scored a 35 1/2-4 1/2 win over MSHS.

Ishpeming-Negaunee scored a 32-8 win over Iron Mountain in the boys match and a 25-13 victory in the “X” match, while the Mountaineers scored a 36 1/2-3 1/2 triumph in the girls encounter.

The UPBC isn’t taking time off for the holidays from its regular Saturday schedule. This week, teams will converge at Recreation Lanes in Iron Mountain at 10 a.m. EST, with boys and girls matchups to include Marquette vs. Escanaba, Westwood vs. IM, L’Anse vs. Calumet and Ishpeming vs. Gladstone. In addition the Westwood X “B” team will square off against Marquette X.

The regular season continues through Jan. 24, with girls singles, boys singles and team finals scheduled for three consecutive weeks starting on Jan. 31, then the MHSAA regional and state finals that conclude the season the final two weekends of February.

Story contents based on email received from Marquette assistant coach Maria Virch. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.