One Kansas bowling regional, the Class 6A Manhattan regional, was moved ahead of Winter Storm Q, but most of the remaining state berths will decided today as teams and individuals qualify for state next week at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.
1 . Yuratovich rolls into regional
Reigning Kansas Class 6A boys state champion Aaron Yuratovich begins defense of his individual gold in earnest today at the Olathe East Class 6A regional at Olathe Lanes East. Yuratovich, whose 228 average is tops in eastern Kansas, finished second at the Sunflower League bowling championships on Feb. 14 at Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence with a 730 series, stringing together games of 251, 221 and 258. He’ll need a similar showing to guarantee a spot at next week’s 6A state meet — and the chance to repeat.
2 . State champion Eagles eye repeat
Olathe North, which also is in the Olathe East regional, won the Class 6A boys team championship last season and returns most of its title-winning crew. Fresh off a runner-up finish Feb. 14 at the Sunflower League championships, the Eagles hope to punch a return ticket to state led by seniors Travis Sixta, who was second in 6A as a junior, and Kenny Kent, who was ninth last season. Senior Horace Paul and sophomores Branden Russell and Drake Rapue also return from the state champion squad.
3 . Sumner’s Carter hopes to add to medal collection
Reigning Kansas 5-1A girls bowling state runner-up Katie Carter, a Sumner Academy senior, is a three-time state medalist. She’ll have to survive the Leavenworth Class 5-1A regional today at Crown Lanes to get a crack at another medal — and perhaps that elusive state championship. Carter carries a 204 average this season.
4 . Olathe North girls face tough regional
Olathe North’s girls finished six pins shy of a Class 6A title of their own last season. But with a stacked regional field, it’ll be tough to crack the top three and earn a team berth back to state. The Eagles, who are led by a junior, returning state runner-up Madison Kent, won the Sunflower League championship Feb. 14. They now find themselves in a regional with five of the top six teams from the league along with East Kansas League champion Gardner Edgerton.
5 . Raiders, Saints face uphill climb in Topeka
Only two of the 12 boys teams at the Topeka-Seaman Class 5-1A regional at West Ridge Lanes advance to state. That puts a lot of pressure on Shawnee Mission South’s top duo — Daniel Coup, who averages 211 per game, and Josh Hasenleder (205) to prop up the Raiders. Meanwhile, fellow state hopeful St. Thomas Aquinas will rely on Joey Crane (198) and East Kansas League gold medalist Alex VanPelt.
| Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com
Tod Palmer, <a href="mailto:tpalmer@kcstar.com">tpalmer@kcstar.com</a>
