By JIM MISUNAS
WICHITA – Great Bend’s quest for a Class 5-1A girl’s state bowling championship swung back-and-forth between excitement and nerves. The tension brought several girls and nearly the head coach to tears.
“When we started getting towards the end, I saw tears in their eyes,” said Great Bend coach Mike Perry. “They knew their season was coming to an end. My knees were shaking too.”
The Panthers celebrated a storybook finish with its first girls bowling state championship by 23 pins – 2,809 to 2,786 pins for runner-up Topeka Seaman Thursday at Northrock Lanes.
Eighth-place state finisher Elsi Miller led the Panthers (541), who featured four top 20 medalists.
“This is awesome. It meant everything for us to win state. We knew it was pretty close,” Miller said. “I picked up a couple good spares.”
Ninth-place finisher Allie Brodrick (538), 13th-place finisher Jordan Vsetecka (526) and 15th place finisher Alexis Fox (510) earned top 20 medalist honors. McKenzy Black (467) placed 36th and Kylynn Keeler finished 58th (436).
The Panthers built a 76-pin lead in the first game, only to trail Topeka Seaman by 32 pins after a series of four 10-pin games.
“I told the girls that if you want this, to go get it. It went right to the end by a mark and a half,” Perry said.
The Panthers’ rally in the four-game team-oriented Baker series was ignited by Elsi Miller’s magical conversion of a 5-7 split in the second game. Great Bend erased Seaman’s lead with a 154-116 first game score and built a 28-pin lead with a 185-163 second game advantage.
Vsetecka calmed her nerves after the first couple of Baker games, and then rallied with a couple of strikes. Black replaced teammate Keeler and delivered some key conversions.
“The lane conditions made the Baker series difficult. The nerves for everybody can factor into that,” Perry said. “We passed them in game one, held on and gutted it out.”
Brodrick capped her career with a ninth-place finish after previous ninth and 12th-place state finishes.
“This is how I wanted to finish,” Brodrick said. “My team is what matters. It’s a lot more stress. We got through one frame at a time. The lane conditions were tough. But we figured it out.”
Vsetecka started the Panthers’ day with a team high 207 game before her emotions forced her to take a break.
“It means everything because this is with my team. It means a lot,” Vsetecka said.
Fox kept playing better as the day progressed, improving to a 203 in her third ten-pin game.
“I definitely got in gear and picked myself up. I was happy with myself,” Fox said.
The Panthers knew it was close, but breathed a sigh of relief when Coach Jim Mayberry passed the good news.
“It was great when coach Mayberry told us we had won,” Fox said. “Of course, he said, ‘If my math is correct, it’s ours.’ ”
Two-time state qualifier Black rolled a 188 game after being sidelined at regionals. She replaced Jessica Disque in the lineup.
“It was nice to have McKenzy come back because it took some pressure off the girls,” Perry said. “She rolled a nice game and gave us a lift. Jessica Disque did a great job at regionals.”
CLASS 5-1A GIRLS
WICHITA’S NORTHROCK LANES
GREAT BEND
8—Elsi Miller, 541 (184-184-173)
9—Allie Brodrick, 538 (188-200-150)
13—Jordan Vsetecka, 526 (207-155-164)
15—Alexis Fox, 510 (138-169-203)
36—McKenzy Black, 467 (188-148-131)
58—Kylynn Keeler, 436 (145-153-138)
TEAM TOTALS
1—Great Bend 2,809 –2,165 (767-708-722) ; Baker 644 (154-185-138-167)
2—Topeka Seaman 2,786 -- 2,197 (701-734-762); Baker 589 (116-163-149-161)
3—Shawnee Heights 2,685 -- 1,999 (657-674-608); Baker 686 (208-144-159-175)
4—Goddard-Eisenhower 2,659 -- 1,974 (677-652-669); Baker 661 (201-160-154-146)
5—Salina South 2,585 -- 1,906 (618-630-658); Baker 679 (159-207-181-132)
6—Wichita Carroll 2,582 -- 1,959 (607-674-678); Baker 623 (146-179-167-131)
7—Augusta 2,552 -- 1,974 (613-655-706); Baker 578 (141-106-156-175)
8— Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 2,517 -- 1,915 (609-691-615); Baker 602 (158-134-147-163)
9—Leavenworth 2,449 -- 1,824 (552-654-618); Baker 625 (168-161-131-165)
10—Andover Central 2,437 -- 1,833 (570-652-611); Baker 604 (142-164-183-115)
11—Lansing 2,321 -- 1,775 (585-630-658); Baker 546 (171-135-114-126)
12—Mill Valley 2,213 -- 1,706 (514-610-582); Baker 507 (135-118-133-121)
TOP 20 MEDALISTS
1—Addy Schiffelbein, Mulvane, 621 (201-212-208)
2—Cayla Bortz, Shawnee Hts. 617 (179-236-202)
3—Kacey Collins, Goddard, 608 (214-206-188)
4—Allayna Kishno Bell, Seaman, 607 (187-201-219)
5—Shyanne Osterhaus, Seaman, 588 (179-215-194)
6—Abby Emmitt, Augusta, 549 (158-186-205)
7—Lacey Angello, Lansing, 541 (172-195-174)
8—Elsi Miller, Great Bend, 541 (184-184-173)
9—Allie Brodrick, Great Bend, 538 (188-200-150)
10—Madison Douglas, Eisenhower, 537 (183-159-195)
11—Morgan Singletary, Andover Central, 534 (157-210-167)
12—Erin Renollet, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, 533 (191-212-130)
13—Jordan Vsetecka, Great Bend, 526 (207-155-164)
14—Irene Rinehart, Highland Park, 515 (183-172-160)
15—Alexis Fox, Great Bend, 510 (138-169-203)
16— Abby Duensing, Shawnee Hts. 508 (176-153-179)
17—Tiana Hipp, Holcomb, 507 (204-162-141)
18—Kayleigh Cuiksa, Mulvane, 506 (174-170-162)
19—Leilani Murawski, Leavenworth, 501 (170-193-138)
20—Madison Hart, El Dorado, 501 (177-141-183)
