March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Back to web versionPosted on Fri, Mar. 06, 2009Sumner girls fifth in Kansas 5-1A state bowlingBy TRAVIS RICHARDSONSpecial to The StarWICHITA | Sumner girls bowling coach Ed Gunter didn’t feel any additional pressure going into the Class 5-1A statechampionship Friday.A surprise, considering the Sabres were the defending champions the last two seasons. But a bid for a third consecutive title wascut short, as the Sabres finished in fifth place. Wichita Bishop Carroll took home the team title with a 2,409 total, winning by 219pins over second place Topeka Shawnee Heights.“We lost a state champion to graduation last year (Sarah Ottens, the 2007 individual medal winner),” Gunter said. “I felt like wecould compete, but we only had three returners from last season. (The team) is a little down now, but I like that. We’ll reload.”Senior Morgan Benton led Sumner, bowling a 578 series. Benton finished in 13th place individually. Sophomore Santana Reedwas second with a 544, placing 18th overall.“Our three new players got some good experience today,” Gunter said. “I thought they did what they could. We didn’t have a lot ofpractice at this alley before today, and that showed a little.”Turner finished eighth. Samantha Leatherbury rolled a 546, finishing 17th individually. But no other Golden Bears bowler finishedabove a 500.Bishop Carroll, though, left little doubt as to the winner. Morgan Kuckelman led the Eagles with a 614 series, good for third placeoverall. Erin Sanagorski finished sixth, and Sara Hansen finished ninth for Carroll. The state championship is the second in fiveyears for the Eagles.“They stepped to the line and made shots when they needed to,” Carroll coach Jim Nance said. “I told them to not even look at theother teams’ score, and just focus and help your teammates out. Usually when one bowls well, they all bowl well. They just feedoff each other.”© 2009 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansascity.comMonday, Mar 9, 2