BY RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman's girls bowling team was shooting a lot higher in Wednesday's Class 5A state tournament at Bowlero Northrock, but the Vikings still took home a team trophy, finishing third to lead the city 5A state contingent.
Seaman's girls bowling team poses for a picture with the Class 5A third-place team trophy Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Led by state medalist Claire LaDuke, the Vikings finished with a team score of 2,844, finishing behind team champion Bishop Carroll (2,987) and runnerup Maize South (2,958).
"We had great high hopes,'' Seaman coach Bob Benoit said. "They just bowled so good all year and won by so much, winning the regionals by 514 pins. We have two juniors, two sophomores and two freshman and this was so nerve-wracking. The first game we had one girl crying, the second game we had four crying.''
Benoit said the Vikings' inability to pick up spares was the difference between a possible run at a state title and Wednesday's third-place finish.
"Our spare-shooting today killed us,'' Benoit said. "If we make our spares like we have all year, we probably have a chance of being first or second. So it was just execution. I know the nerves were there and things started to fall apart. They were trying to make things happen, but tried in the wrong way.
"The girls were really disappointed and I told them, 'I hope this is enough of a punch in the gut for you to understand what I've told all of you. Spare are more important than strikes.' We gave away over 200 pins today in spares. ''
Benoit said the young Vikings will use the offseason to get ready for the 2026 season.
"We'll regroup this summer and we'll get back here next year,'' Benoit said. "It's a good learning experience and we'll figure it out and be back next year.''
Claire LaDuke (right) finished eighth individually with a 582 series, helping lead Seaman to a third-place team finish in Class 5A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
LaDuke rolled a 582 series with a 214 high game to finish eighth individually while the Vikings also got a 22nd-place finish from Leah Crawford (532), a 29th from Kayla Duncan (514), a 37th from Paige Snyder (492), a 45th from Ava Carlson (467) and a 48th from Laci Cole (459).
Shawnee Heights finished sixth as a team with a 2,753 score while the T-Birds had a pair of state medalists.
Shawnee Heights' Addison Van Metre earned a Class 5A state medal with a 15th-place individual finish Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights' Jasmine Villalobos earned a Class 5A state medal with a 16th-place individual finish. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Heights' Addison Van Metre finished 15th individually with a 559 series while teammate Jasmine Villalobos was a pin behind with a 558 series to finish 16th.
Shawnee Heights' boys came up short in their bid to win a second straight team championship, finishing fifth with a 3,340 team score.
Shawnee Heights' Kaden Evans placed ninth in the Class 5A boys state tournament with a 676 series, including a 279 game. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Kaden Evans led the T-Birds with a ninth-place individual finish, bowling a 676 series, including a final-game 279.
Donovan Davis finished 14th in Class 5A for Shawnee Heights with a 653 series Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Heights also got a 14th-place finish from Donovan Davis, who rolled a 653 series.
CLASS 5A STATE BOWLING
At Bowlero Northrock
GIRLS
Team scores
Bishop Carroll 2,987, Maize South 2,958, Seaman 2,844, Salina South 2,814, St. James Academy 2,812, Shawnee Heights 2,753, Emporia 2,751, Basehor-Linwood 2,642, Piper 2,492.
Individual results
1. Callie Vargas, Salina South, 679; 2. Avery Lovegren, De Soto, 647; 3. Kira Lynch, De Soto, 621; 4. Anne Timmermeyer, Bishop Carroll, 604; 5. Taylor Brim, St. James Academy, 602; 6. Rylee Lambeth, Salina South, 602; 7. Kenzie Kalb, Maize South, 601; 8. Claire LaDuke, Seaman, 582; 9. Katie Stuber, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 582; 10. Zoey Mayberry, Great Bend, 576; 11. Taylor McKay, Emporia, 575; 12. Cambria Anderson, Piper, 569; 13. Rose Timmermeyer, Bishop Carroll, 567; 14. Emma Lourentzos, Lansing, 560; 15. Addison Van Metre, Shawnee Heights, 559; 16. Jasmine Villalobos, Shawnee Heights, 558; 17. Ava Kohlmeier, Maize South, 548; 18. Brooklynn Mayberry, Great Bend, 544; 19. Sophia Hill, Emporia, 542; 20. Meredith Seay, Bishop Carroll, 541.
Other Seaman -- 22. Leah Crawford, 532; 29. Kayla Duncan, 514; 37. Paige Snyder, 492; 45. Ava Carlson, 467; 48. Laci Cole, 459.
Other Shawnee Heights -- 36. Tatum Simpson, 497; 40. Reese Bell, 482; 52. Lauryn Valdivia, 445; 53. Sophie Scheve, 444.
BOYS
Team scores
Andover Central 3,648, Piper 3,489, Emporia 3,409, Maize South 3,404, Shawnee Heights 3,340, Lansing 3,269, Bishop Carroll 3,162, Salina South 3,067, St. James Academy 2,839.
Individual results
1. Paxton McLeod, Andover Central, 746; 2. Coltyn Bard, Piper, 744; 3. Tristan Coffey, Maize South, 739; 4. Dayden Cunningham, Andover Central, 723; 5. Madden Pumphrey, Andover, 722; 6. Nathaniel Green, Emporia, 693; 7. Terick Coleman, Lansing, 688; 8. Cayden Darling-Neer, Lansing, 684; 9. Kaden Evans, Shawnee Heights, 676; 10. Gunnar Whitney, Andover Central, 668; 11. Evan Light, Andover Central, 662; 12. Brody Merrick, Piper, 657; 13. Jacob Kamprath, Emporia, 656; 14. Donovan Davis, Shawnee Heights, 653; 15. Colton Swift, Emporia, 645; 16. Luke Swanson, De Soto, 645; 17. Jackson Casey, Basehor-Linwood, 642; 18. Leighton Daugherty, Bishop Carroll, 639; 19. Jesus Lucero, Bishop Carroll, 639; 20. William Winkelbauer, Maize South, 635.
Other Shawnee Heights -- 22. Caden Cochrane, 631; 26. Chevy Stallbaumer, 618; 28. Trey Donath, 614; 39. Henry Schattilly, 579.
Seaman -- 29. Skyler Meggison, 609; 53. Kyle Hartley, 530.
Highland Park -- 32. Cristian Reyes, 602.
