High school bowlers prepare for state tournaments

Shawnee Mission West junior Adam Lewis has impeccable timing.

A year ago, he surged during the season’s final weekend to win the 6A state title. And last weekend he turned in one of his best efforts in leading the Vikings to a regional championship.

Lewis’ 710 series led all bowlers in the nine-team regional last Friday and led the Vikings to a state tournament. Senior Samantha Favrow placed second (650) in the girls competition for the Vikings, and the SM West boys and girls teams both won regional titles.

Next up for the bowlers is the 6A state meet at Thunderbird Lanes in Wichita on Saturday.

“I thought at the start of the year they were probably the best teams in the area, and they certainly proved it, both boys and girls, on Friday,” Olathe Northwest coach Charlie Pope said of the Vikings.

The top three teams advanced from each regional. Olathe North also qualified both its boys and girls squads.

Ryan Engle tied for sixth at the regional tournament with a 647 in leading the Eagles, while Emilee Dodson (sixth, 552) and Tina Moore (seventh, 551) led the Olathe North girls.

Pope’s Olathe Northwest boys team qualified for state for the fourth time in four seasons, led by three top-10 individuals – Mitch Gaylord (fourth, 649), Matt Washford (ninth, 642) and Justin Ziegler (10th, 639).

The Olathe South girls also qualified, led by individual regional champ Shannon Morgan (651).

At the 5A-1A regionals, the St. Thomas Aquinas boys advanced, led by steady senior Andrew Flaherty (687).

The 5A-1A state tournament is Saturday at Gage Bowling Center in Topeka.

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2008-02-26 14:12:02

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