By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After making an equipment change a game into Wednesday's Washburn Rural bowling triangular at West Ridge Lanes, Rural junior Geo Peoples went on to bowl the best series of his high school career, leading the Junior Blues to the boys team championship.
Peoples, a returning state placer, bowled a 719 three-game series while the Junior Blues took the team title by a 2,852-2,586 margin over runner-up Seaman while Topeka West was third (2,343).
"I made a ball switch after the first game, and it just really worked for me,'' said Peoples, who placed 14th in the Class 6A state tournament last season. "I was thinking I'd would try (my other ball) and I still shot a good game with it the first game, but I improved after that.''
Washburn Rural junior Geo Peoples, who placed 14th in last season's Class 6A state tournament, won the individual title in Wednesday's Washburn Rural triangular with a 719 series. [File photo/TSN]
Peoples and senior teammate Matthew Hartter, who bowled a 690 series, went one-two in the individual standings and Rural placed four bowlers in the boys top five, with Josh Hammons fourth with a 677 and Logan Glinka fifth with a 669 as Washburn Rural posted a season-best high score.
With the Centennial League tournament coming up next Wednesday at West Ridge, followed by regional and state competition, Peoples said he feels like the Junior Blues are ready to be a contender.
"I think we're ready,'' Peoples said. "We just need to practice with spares and I think that will get us ready to crush league and regionals.''
Washburn Rural bowling coach Jo Ricard talks to her teams after Wednesday's triangular at West Ridge Lanes. Rural's boys won the team title and Geo Peoples won the individual crown with a 719 series. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"For the most part they've been pretty solid,'' Rural coach Jo Ricard said of the boys team. "What we said to the guys though is we did very well today, but we have to turn around, stay relaxed, and we have to do this for the next three weeks.''
Runner-up Seaman got a third-place finish from Zander White, who rolled a 685 series.
Seaman senior Makenzie Millard, a two-time top-five state placer, won the individual title in Wednesday's Washburn Rural triangular with a 679 series as the Vikings won the team championship. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman rolled to the girls individual and team championships, with senior Makenzie Millard taking individual honors while the Vikings took the team crown by a 2,333-2,060 margin over Topeka West. Rural was third with a 1,972 score.
Millard, a two-time state medalist, won the individual title with a 679 series while the Vikings also got a third-place individual finish from Katie Price, who bowled a 564 series.
Millard placed fourth last season after a a fifth-place showing as a sophomore and said she is healthy and excited for what's ahead in the biggest meets of the year after fighting through a thumb injury at this point in the season a year ago.
"I sure am,'' Millard said. "We're working really hard at practice and it seems to be paying off, so I'm pretty happy about it.''
Seaman's girls won league and regional titles a year ago before finishing fourth at state and Viking coach Bob Benoit said his team still needs to keep improving to be at its best for its late-season run.
"I think they're getting closer, but the spare game is not anywhere near where it needs to be,'' Benoit said. "We have too many highs, we have too many lows and we've got to get that ironed out where things are more consistent.''
Runner-up Topeka West got a second-place finish from Megan Wood, who bowled a 647 series, and a fifth from Brenna Rutschmann (531), while Washburn Rural got a fourth-place finish from Claire Ireland (547).
WASHBURN RURAL TRIANGULAR
BOYS
Team scores
Washburn Rural 2,852, Seaman 2,586, Topeka West 2,343.
Individual results
1. Geo Peoples, Washburn Rural, 719; 2. Matthew Hartter, Washburn Rural, 690; 3. Zander White, Seaman, 685; 4. Josh Hammons, Washburn Rural, 677; 5. Logan Glinka, Washburn Rural, 669.
GIRLS
Team scores
Seaman 2,333, Topeka West 2,060, Washburn Rural 1,972.
Individual results
1. Makenzie Millard, Seaman, 679; 2. Megan Wood, Topeka West, 647; 3. Katie Price, Seaman, 564; 4. Claire Ireland, Washburn Rural, 547; 5. Brenna Rutschman, Topeka West, 531.
