Wichita ? Free State High bowling coach Chuck Tracy said his team was lucky it went to Wichita last weekend.

The Firebirds didn’t perform to their usual high standards last weekend at their regional at Countryside West Lanes, where the boys finished second and the girls fourth.

Still, Tracy said his squads got a good taste of the teams that will show up today when both the Firebirds and Lawrence High participate in the first state bowling tournament at Northrock Bowling Center.

“It was a new experience for them, but it was a good lesson,” said Tracy, whose boys finished second behind Wichita Heights, while the Firebird girls narrowly qualified in fourth.

Lawrence High’s girls team took fourth in its regional in Olathe, but the Lions boys didn’t qualify as a squad. LHS senior David Wyatt, however, made it individually when he rolled a 557 series.

The battle between the city’s two girls squads could get interesting today when the tourney begins at 10:10 a.m. The boys competition begins at noon.

LHS is led by freshman Tiffany Demaline, who earlier this season rolled a perfect 300 game. Last week, she rolled a 563 to lead the Lions.

Free State is led by the Sprow sisters. Dacia, a senior, just missed a perfect game this year when she rolled a 299.

She led the Firebirds with a 559 series last weekend, which was good for third. Her sophomore sister, Dequesne, was 10th with a 505.