Boys Bowling looks to strike at State

Junior+Kyron+Fergus+aims+for+a+strike+at+practice.

Astin Ramos

Junior Kyron Fergus aims for a strike at practice.

Rene Evans, Staff Writer

The boys bowling team is headed to state once again following a second-place finish at regionals. Seniors Brendyn Bard and Logan Vogel, juniors Braden Spak, Kyron Fergus and John Webb and sophomore Mason Miller will all be competing in Wichita on March 6.
“Everyone had a strong performance at regionals, and we competed really well as a team,” Webb said. “We are firing on all cylinders, and this is a good time as we are ready for state.”
The boys bowling team has broken multiple records this year, including the school record for total pins knocked down. The previous record was 2,637 and the boys beat this record with 2,649 pins.
“Beating the record was huge because it gives us that extra boost of confidence needed to believe we have a chance at state,” Bard said.
After a state appearance last year, Bard believes they are ready for an even better finish this year. This season, Bard bowled the highest series in Kansas in all classes with an 822 finish.
“This season, I feel like we are more mature and improved enough to become state champions,” Bard said. “So our overall goal is to win state.”
Bard and Vogel said they are good friends on the team and use their competitiveness to help better themselves and the team.
“When me and him are going back and forth, he’ll start not talking as much and become more focused. I become more focused too, until eventually one of us breaks,” Vogel said. “The drive to beat each other makes us play to our highest ability.”
Other members on the team can see this competitiveness and thinks it brings positivity to the overall team atmosphere.
“It pushes them both to be better during meets and practices because Logan is always trying to be better than Brendyn,” Spak said. “When Logan one-ups Brendyn and puts the pressure on him, he still makes his adjustments to get the ball down the lane and knock all the pins down. So that helps us out a lot.”
At state, the bowler’s expect to be competing on tougher patterns that they may not be used to.
“Well, the past two years, it’s been really slick,” Fergus said. “So adjustments are going to have to be made. If the ball is left of where it normally goes, then we will have to change our marks.”
Regardless of how the team performs at State, they won’t forget to have fun as they compete.
“We look forward to the experience of having fun with our bowling teammates at the hotel, and just getting to bond with them, and hopefully we get a state championship,” Spak said.