By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's bowling teams had plenty to celebrate in Wednesday's Class 4A-1A bowling regional at Gage Bowl.
Hayden junior Reece Renyer (center) celebrates after his second-game 300 in Wednesday's Class 4A-1A bowling regional at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Not only did both Hayden teams earn team berths for next week's state tournament in Wichita, with the Wildcat boys winning the regional team title and the Hayden girls finishing second, but junior Reece Renyer achieved every bowler's dream with a perfect 300 game in his second game of the day.
After a first-game 194, Renyer and fellow Wildcat junior Kelton Meier matched strikes over the first seven frames of the second game.
Hayden junior Reece Renyer reacts after a strike during his perfect 300 game Wednesday at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Meier's strike string temporarily ended with an eighth-frame spare before he struck out for a 278 while Renyer was able to go the distance for his first-ever 300.
"I was a little bit nervous going into that 10th frame,'' Renyer said. "It would definitely hit me when everyone would go quiet. That really got me and I got it done by taking deep breaths and Kelton guiding me the whole way.
"I had a 279 at state last year and that's the closest I had ever gotten.''
Hayden junior Kelton Meier finished second individually in Wednesday's Class 4A-1A bowling regional with a 682 series, including a 278 game. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Meier was oh so close to a 300 himself.
"I missed inside by like a board or two (in the eighth frame) and the outcome wasn't what I wanted that frame, but it was a really good game,'' Meier said. "I was just trying to stay up there with Reece that second game.
"We were counting down our strikes. After we struck our first frame we were like, 'OK, we have 11 left, 10 left, nine left.' It was so fun.''
Renyer stumbled a bit in the third game with a 158 after his emotional second game, but still finished the day with a 652 series to place third individually, right behind Meier, who rolled a final-game 228 to finish second with a 682 series, just 10 pins behind individual champion Kolten Powell of Ottawa.
Hayden, the defending 4A-1A state champ, won the team title by a 3,413-3,297 margin over Ottawa, as the Wildcats also got a seventh-place finish from sophomore Ashton Litke (611) and a ninth-place showing from sophomore Ben Mayer (589), while sophomore Andrew Lee (524) and junior Jason Ahlstedt (467) rounded out the lineup.
"I think we did really good today for how we've been doing throughout the season,'' Renyer said. "I think we might be a little bit behind (where they were in 2025), but I think we can pick it up going into state. We all had fun and we did what we could do.''
Meier thinks the Wildcats have the potential to make another state run next week.
"I think we're a very capable team this year and I think we showed that today, especially duing Baker,'' Meier said. "I think our overall score was one of the best we've shot all season, so we can definitely put it together when it really matters and I think we'll see that at state again.''
Hayden's girls punched their ticket to state with a runnerup team finish behind Ottawa (2,812-2,396) as senior Jenna Henkensiefken shot a 502 series, including a 213 game, to lead the Wildcats with a fourth-place individual finish.
Senior Izzy Glotzbach posted a seventh-place finish (445) while senior Emily Peterson finished ninth (424) and senior Kellyn Specht (385), senior Mayela Valdez (341) and senior Olivia Coyle (308) rounded out the Hayden lineup.
The Class 4A-1A state tournament will be held next Friday, March 6, at Wichita's Bowlero Northrock, with the boys competition at 8:50 a.m., followed by the girls at 1:40 p.m.
CLASS 4A-1A REGIONAL BOWLING
At Gage Bowl
BOYS
Team scores
Hayden 3,413, Ottawa 3,297, Washington County 3,019, Maranatha Academy 2,872, Atchison 2,848, Bishop Miege 2,372.
Individual results
1. Kolten Powell, Ottawa, 692; 2. Kelton Meier, Hayden, 682; 3. Reece Renyer, Hayden, 652; 4. Tucker Huband, Washington County, 646; 5. Nick Grissom, Maranatha Academy, 643; 6. Shane Circle, Ottawa, 637; 7. Ashton Litke, Hayden, 611; 8. Dane Spilman, Atchison, 595; 9. Ben Mayer, Hayden, 589; 10. Jackson Snowden, Atchison, 571.
Other Hayden-- Andrew Lee 524, Jason Ahlstedt 467.
Individual state qualifiers -- Tucker Huband, Washington County; Nick Grissom, Maranatha Academy; Dane Spilman, Atchison; Jackson Snowden, Atchison; Zachary Tschauder, Atchison; Jeremiah Wesley, Bishop Miege.
GIRLS
Team scores
Ottawa 2,812, Hayden 2,396, Atchison 2,046, Bishop Miege 1,884, Washington County 1,836, Maranatha Academy 1,344.
Individual results
1. Kathy Gillett, Ottawa, 652; 2. Alison Huffman, Ottawa, 575; 3. Abigail Huffman, Ottawa, 522; 4. Jenna Henkensiefken, Hayden, 502; 5. Taylor Horne, Ottawa, 486; 6. Lora Kuntz, Ottawa, 452; 7. Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden, 445; 8. Grace Dempsey, Ottawa, 436; 9. Emily Peterson, Hayden, 424; 10. Carolyn Freeman, Atchison, 418.
Other Hayden -- Kellyn Specht 385, Mayela Valdez 341, Olivia Coyle 308.
Individual state qualifiers -- Carolyn Fryman, Atchison; Angela Martinez, Washington County; Zoe Chambers, Maranatha Academy; Alaney Schuele, Atchison; Maria Carroll-Allen, Atchison; Nora Brabec, Washington County.
