Scottsboro sweeps Class 1A-5A bowling state titles
Story By Jason Bowen
Scottsboro High School got to celebrate twice at the 2026 AHSAA Bowling Championships.
Scottsboro repeated as Class 1A-5A Girls Bowling state champion, and a few hours later SHS claimed the 1A-5A Boys bowling state title for the first time in program history.
“To have both teams reach the top together is incredibly rare and incredibly special,” said Scottsboro head bowling coach Matt Brewer. “It represents countless hours of work, sacrifice, and belief. These athletes didn’t just win championships, they created a standard and a legacy for our school. I couldn’t be prouder of who they are and what they accomplished. It’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my coaching career.”
Neither team lost a match during the double-elimination state tournament, which was Jan. 28-29 in Mobile.
The Scottsboro girls team roster is comprised of junior Sydney Moore, sophomores Grace Anderton, Jill Hambrick, Brenley Moore, Emma Osby and Surina Patel, freshman McKynna Handley and eighth-grader Danika Pritchett. The SHS boys team roster is comprised of seniors Luke Anderton, Parker Dodson, Mikey Horan, Jacob Lovett and MJ Skelton, junior Jamie Smith, sophomore Will Venable and freshman Sean Kropf.
The coaching staff is made up of Brewer and assistants Labron Anderton, Lee Becker and Chris Moore.
“I couldn’t do this without CoachBecker, Coach Anderton, and Coach Moore,” Brewer said. “Their dedication, knowledge, and heart for these athletes are a huge reason for our success. They pour countless hours into developing these bowlers — not just technically, but as competitors and people. The trust we have as a coaching staff and the way we work together allowed these teams to reach their potential. I’m incredibly grateful to coach alongside them.”
The Scottsboro Girls opened the state tournament with a 1,308-1,164 first-round win over Elberta before defeating Horseshoe Bend 1,333-1,127 in the second round, Orange Beach 1,326-1,190 in the winners’ bracket final and East Limestone 1,275-1,101 in the state championship finals.
Sydney Moore and Osby were named to the Class 1A-5A Girls All-State Tournament Team after placing third and eighth respectively in the individual standings.
“They trusted each other completely, even under the brightest lights and the most pressure. Every frame felt intentional. Every reaction on the bench showed how much they cared. They stayed composed, lifted each other up, and never let doubt creep in. That kind of chemistry can’t be taught, it’s earned, and it’s why they were able to repeat as champions,” Brewer said. “It was one of those moments where you just step back and take it all in. Watching them compete, you could feel how much they wanted it, not for themselves, but for each other. They bowled with confidence, joy, and total belief. As a coach, seeing a group that connected, focused, and fearless on that stage is incredibly emotional. They didn’t just defend a title they owned the moment.”
The SHS Boys defeated Satsuma 1,577-1,259 in the state tournament’s opening round before besting Beauregard 1,604-1,481 in Round 2 and Corner 1,526-1,348 in the winners’ bracket final. The Wildcats, led by seniors Luke Anderton, Dodson, Horan, Lovett and Skelton, then defeated Corner in the Baker-Format state championship final 3-1 with 1,579 pin-total.
Luke Anderton (second in Top-2 game series), Horan (third), Skelton (sixth) and Dodson (eighth) were all named to the Class 1A-5A Boys All-State Tournament team. Meanwhile, Lovett, won a second state title the following day with Scottsboro’s Class 4A-5A Boys indoor Track and Field team.
“When the pressure mounted, they stayed together and trusted the work they’d put in for years,” Brewer said. “The seniors led with emotion and accountability, and the entire team followed. They didn’t just bowl to win, they bowled for each other and for the chance to leave their mark on this program forever. It was emotional in a way that’s hard to put into words. Those seniors helped build this program. They’ve carried the weight of expectations, setbacks, and unfinished business for years. Watching them finally break through and win the first state championship in school history was incredibly powerful. You could see the relief, the pride, and the joy all at once. That moment meant everything to them, and to all of us.”
