Seaman coach Geoff Poston sat by himself at the south end of Northrock Lanes on Thursday morning, nervously fiddling with a cell phone.
The Vikings’ girls bowling team opted for group therapy, huddling and holding hands as team scores from the Class 5-1A state meet were read over the public-address system in ascending order.
When eighth through second places were announced with no mention of Seaman, junior Alexis Hackler closed her eyes tight and squeezed two teammates’ hands tightly to launch her celebration. With a three-game team pinfall total of 2,423, the Vikings edged Buhler by eight pins to capture their first state bowling title.
Hackler’s 643 series, highlighted by a team-best 243 in the second game, set the pace for Seaman. With a new postseason scoring format in place in which the top four individual scores from a team counted in each game, Seaman sandwiched Game 1 and 3 scores of 796 around an 831 in the middle game.
Hackler finished fourth individually. Senior Shelby Shaw (621), a ninth-place finisher, and junior Courtney Bigger (576), who was 15th, also earned individual medals.
“Our parents started adding it up, and we knew it was really close,” Hackler said. “We got really nervous there toward the end right before they announced the scores.”
With Centennial League and regional champion Shawnee Heights experiencing a rare off day in defense of its 2010 team title, Seaman capitalized. The Vikings were in fourth place — 63 pins behind leader Buhler — after the first game. But behind Hackler’s 243 and Bigger’s series-best 204, Seaman sliced its deficit to 18 pins heading in to the final game.
“We stressed spares and filling frames,” said Poston, whose entire team finished in the top half of the 72-bowler field. “We told them if you have a bad game, shake it off and someone will pick you up.”
Bowling in the same lanes with Buhler, Seaman competed amid the cheers of a large contingent of Crusader fans throughout the meet. There were plenty of roars in the final game. But with Hackler (227), Shaw (215), Britni Thoman (178) and Katie Brazda (176) contributing, Seaman’s 796 pinfall total in the final game was 26 better than Buhler.
“One thing you really learn to do is block things out,” Shaw said. “You’ve really got to focus when you’re up there, so you just learn not to listen to all of it.”
There was plenty of yelling for Carroll freshman Hollyann Johansen, who won the individual title with a 756 series and led the Eagles to a third-place finish. Johansen rolled a 289 in the second game, opening with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving a 10-pin with her second attempt in the 10th frame. That matched Garden Plain’s Elizabeth May for the tournament’s high game.
Shawnee Heights finished sixth with a 2,216 pinfall score. Junior Jessica Thompson, last year’s individual champion, rolled a 635 series to finish sixth. She was the T-Birds’ lone individual medalist. Junior Kristi Renyer, the 2009 state champion, rolled a 537 and was 26th.
“The girls have had a fantastic year,” Shawnee Heights coach Nick Harris said. “Every now and then, you have one of those days where somebody else has a better day.
“Congratulations to Topeka Seaman. When I’ve said our league is one of the better ones In the state, I meant it. And that held true today.”
Topeka West junior Rachel Barber, who won last week’s regional meet, finished 21st with a 553 series.
TEAM SCORES
Topeka Seaman 2,423; Buhler 2,415; Carroll 2,370; Andover Central 2,306; Lansing 2,267; Shawnee Heights 2,216; Great Bend 2,181; KC Turner 1,978.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Johansen, Carroll, 221-289-246 – 756; 2. Ladigo, Andover Central, 233-203-247 – 683; 3. Carter, KC Sumner, 189-237-236 – 662; 4. Hackler, Seaman, 173-243-227 – 643; 5. Allan, Buhler, 234-203-206 – 643; 6. Thompson, Shawnee Heights, 233-198-204 – 635; 7. Angello, Lansing, 222-246-157 – 625; 8. Mason, Andover Central, 226-152-246 – 624; 9. Shaw, Seaman, 233-173-215 – 621; 10. Bartel, Buhler, 226-177-205 – 608.
11. Reed, KC Sumner, 162-208-233 – 603; 12. May, Garden Plain, 161-289-137 – 587; 13. Kirmer, Great Bend, 192-156-235 – 583; 14. Eckert, Lansing, 177-180-224 – 581; 15. Bigger, Seaman, 200-204-172 – 576; 16. Kuckelman, Carroll, 208-189-178 – 575; 17. Bailey, Buhler, 199-204-172 – 575; 18. Hejny, Great Bend, 170-225-176 – 571; 19. Gulick, Circle, 157-223-184 – 564; 20. Hunt, Buhler, 200-202-161 – 563.
Other Seaman — 25. Thoman 170-194-178 – 542; 30. Ross 190-190-145 – 525; 34. Brazda 153-188-176 – 517.
Other Heights — 26. Renyer 176-185-176 – 537; 31. Breitkreutz 186-142-194 – 522; 40. Crawford 126-181-187 — 494; 57. Welch 154-138-164 – 456; 67. Oliva 150-139-109 – 398.
West results — 21. Barber 167-187-199 – 553; 32. Wolfley 177-184-158 – 519.
