High school bowlers advance to state after district showing

    Members of the high school bowling team squeaked by and made the cut for the state tournament.
    Coach Denise Smith said her team of five bowlers finished fourth Saturday in a field of six teams at districts in Ravenna. The top four, based on total pin count after three regular games and five baker’s games, qualified for state next month.
    Smith said there were only two Class C districts for bowling this year, so each one is sending its top four to state, where eight teams will compete for the state title.
    While the team could have taken seven from its roster to districts on Saturday, only five from Chase County were able to compete.
    Competing at districts included Alex Pflum, Nike Smith, Joel DaMoude, Sydney Vetter and Lauren Prior. Coach Smith said coaches must submit a seven-person roster prior to districts, and she will be able to choose from that roster of seven for the team at state.
    Chase County’s team scores at districts from the regular games were 467, 537 and 652, which had the team sitting third. Baker’s games were 140, 156, 122, 110 and 134 for a total pin count of 2,318. That placed them fourth behind district winner Burwell/Ord with 2,776, Broken Bow 2,561 and Kearney Catholic 2,398.
    Other teams competing at districts and their scores were St. Paul 2,277 and Adams Central 1,988.
    The top seven bowlers at districts, using their individual scores, were named to an all-tournament team. Chase County bowlers missed the top seven, Smith said.
    The Class C state tournament is set for Dec. 9-10 at Lincoln’s Parkway Lanes starting at 9 a.m.
    High school bowling is coordinated statewide by the Nebraska High School Bowling Federation (NHSBF) The group continues to lobby the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) to include bowling as a sanctioned high school sport.
    Smith said the NHSBF may be petitioning the NSAA to vote in January on adding bowling as a high school activity.