Sumner Academy’s Smith is The Star’s boys bowler of the year

When Sumner Academy bowler Christian Smith started competitively with the sport as a sophomore, he had a lot to learn. He had joined the bowling team for fun to be with his friends.

And, well, there he was last month at the Kansas 5A-1A state tournament in Wichita, his final varsity meet.

Smith, now a senior, started his third and final game with 10 consecutive strikes. He would lose the perfect game in the final frame, but he still came away with something of a perfect finish to his varsity career.

Smith won the Kansas 5A-1A state championship with a personal-best 777 series and can also stake claim to the title of The Star’s All-Metro boys bowler of the year.

“He went well beyond what I thought he could do,” Sumner Academy coach Eddie Gunter said. “To shoot what he shot at sate was remarkable.”

Smith’s state tournament feat included games of 254, 245 and 278. He finished his senior season with a 209 average, Gunter said, and also placed fifth at his regional tournament.

Smith hadn’t quite seen all of that coming when he joined the team.

“Whenever I started bowling, it was just for fun,” he said. “And then I realized how competitive it was. Then I started bowling every day, practicing, and it made me the bowler I am now.”

He credits Sumner Academy senior teammate Nathan Kriss for helping him elevate his game over the years. He says he would have rather been part of a team championship.

But the individual state title is quite a consolation.

“I was surprised,” Smith said, trying to put it all in perspective. “I didn’t go there to win or anything. I mean, I did, but … it was great.”

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2009-04-10 00:36:04

Comments - leave comment

• toonerboo says:

  I am very proud of you son!!!

  Posted 32 weeks ago | Delete