BY JIM MISUNAS
WICHITA – Returning Great Bend state medalist Kaylin Wahlmeier and her teammates proved consistency was the trick to repeating as 5A girls state bowling champions.
Great Bend’s pin count of 2,996 beat runner-up Goddard Eisenhower (2,881) by 156 pins. Great Bend closed out three perfectly balanced series games with scores of 772, 771 and 771 for a 2,314 pin count, their highest score of the season.
"It was great to see the consistency we showed," said Great Bend coach David Feldbauer. "It was awesome to post our best score at state."
The Panthers trailed Eisenhower by 20 pins after two games. Great Bend gained 54 pins for a 34-pin lead in game 3 with a 771-717 advantage. The Panthers gained 56 pins in the first Baker game with a 170-114 to build a 90-pin lead.
"Getting that lead was huge," said Feldbauer. "We knew if we beat Eisenhower, we had a heck of a chance to win. What I loved was seeing the girls compete. They bowled their game and had the time of their lives. They enjoyed the experience."
Great Bend continued its consistent play with Baker scores of 170, 164, 172 and 176 for a 682 total.
Fourth-place medalist Kaylin Wahlmeier led the way at 613 (199-231-183). Tenth-place medalist Emilee Nelson, 578 (200-197-181) and 13th-place Zoey Mayberry, 565 (204-172-189) earned top 20 medals. Scores by Wahlmeier, Nelson and Zoey Mayberry counted all three times.
The Panthers’ Paige Heine contributed a 218 score, Brooklyn Mayberry a 169 and Rionna Rodriguez scored a crucial 171. Paige Heine finished 26th at 518 (155-145-218); Brooklyn Mayberry, 51st at 448 (169-129-150); and Rionna Rodriguez, 58th at 426 (154-171-101).
"It was great to see our 4-5-6 bowlers post one great score," he said. "Everyone contributed. We put decent Baker scores together and knew had a good chance of winning. We could tell our girls had competed at state. I saw that confidence."
Wahlmeier captured the 2022 state championship with a 752 series (267, 241 244), the highest score in 5A girls history. The Panthers captured the 5A state team title (3,161) at Wichita in 2023. Zoey Mayberry placed sixth (591). Wahlmeier was eighth (584) and Emilee Nelson 16th (565).
5A GIRLS STATE BOWLING
TOP 20 MEDALISTS
1—Olyvia Choura, GE, 674 (278-198-198); 2—Brim, St. James, 642 (235-161-246); 3—Kohlmeier, MS (201-163-255); 4—Kaylin Wahlmeier, GB, 613 (199-231-183); 5—Findley, Basehor, 588 (226-181-181); 6—Wood, Topeka West, 584 (209-172-203); 7—Rutschmann, Topeka West, 580 (177-199-204); 8—Anne Timmermeyer, Wichita Carroll, 579 (163-170-246); 9—Show, Salina Central, 578 (178-174-226); 10—Emilee Nelson, GB, 578 (200-197-181); 11--Betschart, GE, 575 (192-205-178); 12—Schick, Lansing, 574 (171-191-212); 13—Zoey Mayberry, GB, 565 (204-172-189); 14—Mize, TS, 563 (220-199-144); 15—Schuler, MS, 562 (192-191-179); 16—Crumley, Andover Central, 555 (186-145-224); 17—Loomis, GE, 555 (168-202-185); 18—Lambeth, SS, 547 (174-172-201); 19—Snyder, Seaman, 542 (156-183-203); 20—Williams, Emporia, 541 (153-177-211)
TEAM TOTALS
1—Great Bend 2,996; SERIES 2,314 (772-771-771); BAKER, 682 (170-164-172-176); 4—Kaylin Wahlmeier, 613 (199-231-183; 10—Emilee Nelson, 578 (200-197-181); 13—Zoey Mayberry, 565 (204-172-189); 26—Paige Heine, 518 (155-145-218); 51—Brooklyn Mayberry, 448 (169-129-150); 58—Rionna Rodriguez, 426 (154-171-101)
2—Goddard Eisenhower, 2,881; SERIES 2,280 (807-756-717); BAKER 601 (114-168-139-180)
3—Maize South, 2,824; SERIES 2,216 (740-711-765); BAKER, 608 (177-135-161-135)
4—Topeka Seaman, 2,864; SERIES 2,192 (701-729-762); BAKER 672 (170-157-201-144)
5—St. James, 2,674; SERIES 2,046 (678-684-684); BAKER 628 (139-144-206-139)
6—Basehor-Linwood, 2,696; SERIES 2,000 (675-679-646); BAKER 696 (175-155-183-183)
7—Wichita Carroll, 2,708; SERIES 2,098 (667-668-763); BAKER 610 (123-149-178-160)
8—Salina South, 2,673; SERIES 2,038 (685-625-755); BAKER 635 (132-195-125-183)
9—Leavenworth, 2,368; SERIES 1,853 (574-580-699); BAKER, 515 (142-113-118-143)
