James Clemens bowling team places third in state tournament

MOBILE – The James Clemens girl’s bowling team showed true grit at the 2025 AHSAA Bowling State Championships in Mobile finishing third.

In the opening round of action held at the Bowlero Bowling Center, the Lady Jets (16-3) were stunned by Hoover (13-2) 1,1861,135 in the eight-team championship. The loss threw James Clemens into the consolation bracket where they had to claw their way back for a shot at the state championship.

In the bracket’s first round, the Lady Jets stepped up their onslaught against Foley (13-7) 1,152-1,031 and moved forward to the next round where they nailed American Christian (213) 1,209-1,139.

In the semi-finals of the consolation bracket, the Jets gave Southside (22-3) a colossal beating 1,337-1,168 against a team the Jets had not beaten in the past four years. The victory was headlined by senior captain Rebekah Wagner rolling a state tournament high 245. The victory set up a winner-take-all match versus Thompson (15-2) with a place in the finals against waiting Hoover. In the consolation finals, Thompson was on target and defeated James Clemens 1,516-1,184 thus advancing to the Class 7A championship round where the Warriors twice beat Hoover (15-2) to claim the 7A title, its first in school history.

In individual scoring, James Clemens senior Rebekah Wagner tied Thompson’s Emma Roberson for the State Title as both rolled a 245 as top games at the state tourney. Wagner, a UAB commit, actually rolled three of the top dozen games in the competition. Beside her best 245, Wagner also posted games of 230 and 203.

Wagner’s James Clemens teammate Emily Caldwell, a sophomore, also rolled some magnificent games among the best as she posted games of 179 and 168.

“Our girls never gave up and cheered for their team and their opponents throughout the tournament, said James Clemens head coach Kristin Hartland. “Our girls cheered never back down never what and never give up. It was an epic season.”

In boys, James Clemens fell in the opening round to Thompson (16-4) 1,556-1,451 and then lost in the consolation bracket opening round to Southside (26-3) 1,514-1,254 to end its season at 20-5.

The Class 7A boy’s title was won by the Vestavia Hills Rebels (31-1) as they defeated rival Thompson (19-5) by just 17 pins 1,594-1,577 in the 10th annual state event.