Just 48 hours after the Lawrence school district approved the addition of a bowling team at both Lawrence High and Free State, another landmark decision regarding the sport took place.

On Wednesday, the Kansas State High School Activities Assn. approved bowling as a varsity sport, complete with a state championship for boys and girls. Competition will begin this year as a winter activity.

“I think it’s a neat deal,” FSHS athletic director Steve Grant said. “Ever since we’ve had an inkling that it might happen, kids have been talking about it a lot.”

Both Lawrence High and Free State will aim for that state title, which likely will be held in Wichita at the end of February or beginning of March. The varsity season will start once students return from winter break at the beginning of January.

LHS athletic director Ron Commons said the initial outlook for city squads was for each school to have a 26-player team (13 boys, 13 girls). Each school would have about five home competitions, which, along with practices, will take place at Royal Crest Lanes, 933 Iowa.

For varsity competitions, six scores count toward a varsity score. Junior varsity competitions also will take place.

The Lawrence school district was able to offer the sport virtually expense-free thanks to funding from Larry Burton and Wayne Martin, the owners of Royal Crest Lanes who will cover the costs of uniforms, equipment and other expenses. That helped make the school board’s approval on Monday unanimous.

The five Olathe schools started bowling as an interschool sport last year, and meets with those schools will make up Lawrence’s and Free State’s entire regular-season schedule. Because of KSHSAA’s approval on Wednesday, though, more schools could start sponsoring it.

Currently, Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission North offer bowling as a club sport.

The initial turnout for the sport is unknown, but the Olathe schools saw an overwhelming amount of students try out. LHS and FSHS could see the same popularity.

“If what the initial reaction has been is any indication, we’ll have a lot of kids try out,” Free State’s Grant said. “A lot of kids are real excited about it, and we’re looking forward to it.”