Kansas state bowling | Five things to watch

Kansas state bowling: Five things to watch

The Class 5-1A state tournament is Thursday at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, followed by the Class 6A state tournament on Friday.

1. Eagles rolling, Yuratovich reeling

Reigning Class 6A boys champions Olathe North served notice with a dominant regional performance that it’s the team to beat once again. The Eagles rolled a 2,821 in winning by 258 pins and had three of the top four individuals. Senior Kenny Kent turned in the top series (746), while sophomore Drake Rapue (711) placed second and freshman Tristan Musick (696) was fourth. Meanwhile, reigning individual state champion Aaron Yuratovich, an Olathe East junior, will try to bounce back from a 26th-place finish at the same regional (560).

2. Saulnier, Ravens try to sustain momentum

Fresh off an 804 series in winning the Class 6A Olathe East regional, Olathe Northwest sophomore Mackenzie Saulnier is among the top contenders for the individual state crown. But the title Saulnier covets most is the team championship. Paired with senior Becca Wood and a strong contingent of other players — seniors Audrey Lewis and Monica Reasor along with juniors Jordan Jewett and Carter Lundgren — the Ravens should contend for a title.

3. SM South rolling toward state

Among the Class 5-1A boys, SM South rides a wave of momentum to state after winning the Topeka-Seaman regional. The Raiders edged runner-up Mill Valley by 32 pins for first place led by a trio of medalists — senior runner-up Daniel Coup (689), senior Alex Brown, who finished fifth (669), and ninth-place Dimitri Horton (642). Meanwhile, the second-place Jaguars boast the regional champ, senior Nick Ridgeway (698), and St. Thomas Aquinas junior Skyler Martin, who was third at the regional (682), projects as a medal threat.

4. Lansing, Turner on track for state glory

Lansing and Turner swept the team state berths Sunday at the Leavenworth regional. Led by regional runner-up John Bredehoeft (691), the Lions boys expect to be a threat to crack the top three, while the Bears and regional champion Chance Rivera (703) hope for similar success. Meanwhile, Lansing’s girls led by Amber Ketchum and Turner’s girls led by Jovanna Ramirez believe they are state-title contenders as well. Of course, fending off Sumner Academy’s Katie Carter, who won the regional (643) and was third at state last season, has gold-medal ambition of her own.

5. Additional medal threats

St. James Academy freshman Alanna Dierking, who rolled a 674 series in winning the Topeka-Seaman regional, and Mill Valley junior Cassie Widmer, who was the runner-up behind Dierking (630), also are Class 5-1A medal contenders. Meanwhile, among the Class 6A girls, SM Northwest, which is led by junior Cassie Queral and senior Claire Gordon, could crack the top three teams, while Olathe South junior Mackenzie Mitchell should be in the mix for the individual gold and could propel the Falcons into medal contention collectively as well.