ROGERSVILLE - Just call the Cherokee Lady Chiefs' bowling success perfection.Cherokee's girls' bowling team has achieved the impossible this year. The Lady Chiefs finished the regular season unbeaten in all of their regular season matches."The girls are undefeated, and that within itself is amazing!!," Cherokee coach Bethany Parsons said. The Lady Chiefs began their season in October and gradually built momentum as the season continued. They are bowling in regional play this week before going into sectional action on January 19 and 21.Senior Savana Mullins has already qualified for the state tournament for individual bowlers on January 24-26 in Smyrna. Mullins has a pin average of 173 for the season. "They still have a tough road ahead with bowling in Regionals, Sectionals, and State," Parsons noted. "I don't want them to lose their mindset of what it took for them to get themselves where they are.  It didn't magically happen overnight; it took a lot of work on their part as well as coaches, teachers, and parents.""This group of girls have pulled together, supported and backed each other, and in the end, they came out on top!  It has been an awesome ride, and it's not over just yet.  I have seen these girls grow, academically and athletically, and I'm very proud of all of them!"  Cherokee was dominant in most of the matches they played until late in the year when they had a very close 14-13 win over Chuckey-Doak, according to Parsons. The Lady Chiefs won that match on total pins.  "I believe the girls needed the reality check.  They needed to see that just because they had won 15 matches didn't mean they couldn't lose one.  It was humbling and motivating," Parsons said."We are going to see where this leads.  Obviously, I want to come home from Smyrna on January 26 with 4 State Championships.  Every single member of the team has to opportunity to go to state, but if it doesn't happen; the opportunity and the ride has been well worth it. (Assistant coaches) Danny, Tader Mullins, and I will meet up later in the spring, discuss plans for next year, and get the ball rolling again.  Right now, all of us, coaches and players, are just enjoying the journey."
"I am going to lose three wonderful young ladies, Amber Collins, Mullins, and Taylor Wallace.  These girls are very talented, on and off the lanes.  I'm glad they had the opportunity to get this far, and hopefully bring home a State Championship for the school. That's something not a lot of kids get to be a part of."In addition to the three seniors, Members of the team include juniors Maggie Gillenwater, Sophia Toney and China Hake. Other teammarea are sophomore Sabrina Dubuque, and freshmen Brittany Gulley and Josey Stone.