By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- It became evident in the first game of Thursday's Class 5A-1A boys state bowling tournament at Northrock Lanes that the day belonged to Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
And although neither Seaman or any other team in the field could challenge the Crusaders, who set state tournament records for three-game and total scores, the Vikings still had plenty to feel good about, including a third-place team finish and three individual medalists.
Seaman sophomore Zander White led 3rd-place Seaman with a 665 series in the 5A-1A state bowling tournament. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
"(Kapaun) just bowled outstanding,'' Seaman coach Bob Benoit said. "There was nobody going to beat that team today. They just had it all going for them. We did OK. We just made a few mistakes. But we had a good day, we had a good year. I'm real happy with it.''
Kapaun Mt. Carmel finished with a team score of 3,769 while Eisenhower was second with a 3,414 pin total and Seaman third at 3,383.
Seaman sophomore Ethan Burns competes in Thursday's 5A-1A bowling tournament at Northrock Lanes. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
And like Benoit, Viking sophomore Ethan Burns, who finished 13th with a 643 series, said he just had to tip his hat to Kapaun.
"That's insane,'' Burns said. "They had like four people in the top (10) or something and they deserved (the title). They shot really good.
"We got into it as the day went on and we tried. Bob said we were very few pins from getting second and that's kind of why I'm disappointed.''
Sophomore Zander White led the Vikings with an eighth-place finish, rolling a 665 series.
"Coming into one of these, it always feels good to do good, but you follow the team,'' White said. "It the team does good the individuals do good. You just kind of follow that and it goes from there.''
Seaman junior Jack Easum and sophomore Braxton Moore narrowly missed individual medals, with Easum finishing 21st (615) and Moore 22nd (614).
The Vikings also got a 35th-place finish from senior DJ Birkenbaugh (564) and a 75th-place finish from senior Trenton Turkin (484).
Shawnee Heights finished 10th as a team (2,989), led by sophomore William Shaffer, who finished 18th individually with a 618 series.
Senior Benjamin Weinzirl finished 34th for the T-Birds (566), while senior Jonathan Egly was 54th (532), junior Aidan Van Metre 55th (532), sophomore Josh Egly 62nd (515) and senior Shane May 66th (511).
Topeka West senior Justin Brookens finished 28th (580), freshman Dason Tidwell 31st (574) and sophomore Austin McIntosh 65th (512) while competing as individuals.
Hayden senior Aaron Thomas placed 69th with a 501 series.
CLASS 5A-1A BOYS STATE BOWLING
Team scores
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 3,769, Eisenhower 3,414, Seaman 3,383, Bishop Carroll 3,196, Emporia 3,113, Mill Valley 3,025, Wichita Trinity Academy 3,020, Great Bend 3,005, Shawnee Heights 2,989, Piper 2,958.
Individual results
1. Cole Munley, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 781; 2. Samuel Calderon, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 747; 3. Bryce Moore, Great Bend, 698; 4. Chase Young, Salina Central, 697; 5. Kyle Ultzsch, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 675 (239); 6. Andrew Merrell, Eisenhower, 675 (238); 7. Lawton Simons, Bishop Carroll, 669; 8. Zander White, Seaman, 665; 9. Cale McConnell, Eisenhower , 665; 10. Tanner Becker, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 649 (236); 11. Khalil Sanchez, Emporia, 649 (233); 12. Jack Barnes, Eisenhower, 643 (227); 13. Ethan Burns, Seaman, 643 (216); 14. Blake Albers, Bishop Carroll, 642; 15. Kyler Stockstill, Eisenhower, 628; 16. Wesley Cunningham, Wichita Central Christian, 620 (236); 17. Carter Champlin, Andover, 620 (213); 18. Williams Shaffer, Shawnee Heights, 618 (225); 19. Chase Swift, Emporia, 618 (217); 20. Braden Spak, Piper 616.
Other Seaman -- 21. Jack Easum, 615; 22. Braxton Moore, 614; 35. DJ Birkenbaugh, 564; 75 Trenton Turkin, 484.
Other Shawnee Heights -- 34. Benjamin Weinzirl, 566; 54. Jonathan Egly, 532; 55. Aidan Van Metre, 532; 62. Joshua Egly, 515; 66. Shane May, 511.
Topeka West -- 28. Justin Brookens, 580; 31. Dason Tidwell, 574; 65. Austin McIntosh, 512.
Hayden -- 69. Aaron Thomas, 501.
