By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Washburn Rural put itself in position to challenge for a Class 6A boys state bowling championship with a solid performance in the three American Tenpin games that started Friday's state tournament at Northrock Lanes, punctuated by an outstanding third game.
Rural rode a 948 third game, with 4 bowlers between 214 and 258, to a 2,602-2,583 margin over Wichita Heights entering the four Baker format games, but that's where the Junior Blues' title hopes faded, with Washburn Rural ending up 4th in the final standings while Wichita Northwest rallied for the championship by a 3,387-3,354 count over Heights.
Washburn Rural sophomore Geo Itzep receives congratulations from his teammates after rolling a strike in Friday's Class 6A bowling tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn looked to have everything going its way at the start of Baker, but the Junior Blues stumbled out of the gate with a 148 opening game and then followed that up with a 167, opening the door for a balanced 6A field.
The Junior Blues came alive with a 224 3rd game but slipped back to a 180 in their final game, posting a 719 total which was the second-lowest among the eight teams in the field. Olathe South edged Rural 3,330-3,321 for the third-place trophy.
"I think we had so much momentum and then we kind of had a little break and we got in our heads because of it,'' said junior Matthew Hartter, who placed 6th individually with a 675 series to lead 4 state medalists for the Junior Blues.
"We bowled good, but we were just so close to what we wanted.''
Washburn Rural coach Jo Ricard agreed.
"I could see them kind of tense up some going into the Baker after having that wonderful third game and when you go into your Baker you've got to stay relaxed,'' Ricard said. "If you tense up it's hard to just throw your shot and I think we saw some of that happening.''
Rural senior Jacob Morgan finished 12th individually with a 633 series while sophomore Geo Itzep was 14th (629) and senior Cale Marsh 19th (610).
The Junior Blues also got 32nd-place finish from senior Sam Shonka (572) and a 55th-place finish from sophomore Joshua Hammons (490).
Wichita Northwest senior Brandon Bonta won the individual championship with a 788 three-game series while Campus junior V-Thoon Thanasouk finished second with a 713 series.
CLASS 6A BOYS STATE BOWLING
Team scores
Wichita Northwest 3,387, Wichita Heights 3,354, Olathe South 3,330, Washburn Rural 3,321, Campus 3,299, Lawrence 3,256, Olathe West 2,829, Free State 2,937.
Individual results
1. Brandon Bonta, Wichita Northwest, 788; 2. V-Thoon Thanasouk, Campus, 713; 3. Jy'Vaughn Martin, Wichita Heights, 686; 4. Carson Toews, Lawrence, 680; 5. Silas Limes, Wichita Heights, 677; 6. Matthew Hartter, Washburn Rural, 675; 7. Peter Dokolas, Olathe South, 670; 8. Joshua Q. King, Lawrence, 668; 9. Kaden Whitehurst, Garden City, 663; 10. Logan Bennett, Olathe East, 653 (246); 11. Aidan Baker, Free State, 653 (226); 12. Jacob Morgan, Washburn Rural, 633; 13. Jason Miller, Derby, 631; 14. Geo Itzep, Washburn Rural, 629; 15. Dylan Depperschmidt, Wichita Heights, 626; 16. Tyler Newell, Wichita South, 624; 17. Nathan KleinSchrodt, Campus, 616 (247); 18. Eddie Shipley, Olathe South, 616 (221); 19. Cole Marsh, Washburn Rural, 610; 20. Maison Albadaro, Lawrence, 604.
Other Washburn Rural -- 32. Sam Shonka, 572; 55. Joshua Hammons, 490.
Other Topeka High -- 41. Majayla Boyd, 487.
