“Alley rat” probably isn’t high on a list of terms of endearment for most teenage girls.

It suits Tiffany Demaline just fine.

As a precocious 4-year-old, Demaline used to tag along when her mom headed out to league bowling night at Royal Crest Lanes, begging for a chance to roll a ball or two herself.

That persistence and 10 years of training paid off last winter when, as a ninth-grader, Demaline – still a student at West Junior High – represented Lawrence High at the inaugural Kansas State High School Activities Assn. bowling tournament in Wichita and won the first-ever girls state championship with a 733 series.

Whether a repeat is in the cards will depend on her ability to bump up her current 198 average and weather the same obstacles that trouble any athlete – revenge-seeking competitors, the pressure to please her own fans and the dreaded injury bug.

How excited were you when you found out the KSHSAA decided to add bowling to its list of approved sports?

I thought it was awesome because I was in junior high, and I was going to get to compete for my high school. I thought that was really cool. I hate that we aren’t in high school when we are in ninth grade. It’s just different. But it was pretty cool. I was really excited about it.

You came out the inaugural year and were able to win the state title. What was that like?

It was really exciting. I’ve bowled forever. I didn’t go into it thinking I could win it. That didn’t even cross my mind until my coach said something (after) the second game to me and was like, “You’re one game away from being the state champion.” Then it kind of hit me.

Your school at the state tournament was not only better than all the girls, but three of the boys. Did it surprise you that you were able to not only win but be so dominant?

Yeah, it surprised me. A lot of guys that bowl are stronger, and they have more rotation and stuff like that. So, yeah, it did surprise me.

What’s the pressure been like as the defending state champ?

Lawrence High School bowler Tiffany Demaline.

There’s been a lot of pressure. A lot of people ask me if I’m going to be the state champion again. I can’t sit there and promise that I’m going to be that, because you have off days and you have on days, and you could bowl bad or good. It just depends.

You made a big scoring jump at state last year. Can you explain why that happened?

State was amazing. When we all lined up out on the lanes it just pumped me up and I just got in this mind-set. I just got in a zone.

A little less than two weeks remain until this year’s state tournament. How do you feel about where your game is right now?

I think I’m doing all right. I’m not doing my best. I have a few problems, so it kind of plays into that. But I’m doing all right – a little bit better than I was last year before I went to state. Of course, state was my best.

You’ve been having some problems with your knees and back. How tough does that make it to go out and bowl?

It’s pretty tough. I just kind of have to deal with the pain. Mind over matter.

Are the injuries something that occurred while bowling, or was it an outside issue?

They just started hurting. I have unstable hips, and my knees are bad.

Your coach, Greg Farley, has talked about your determination to fight through the pain. Do you ever question whether you should be out there bowling, or do you enjoy it too much to stop?

I question it sometimes. I think it probably makes it worse. Just like the other day, I cut my leg open, and I bowled the same day, and everybody thought I was crazy.

Bowling has a little bit different reputation than most sports. A lot of people say it’s a game, not a sport. What’s your take on that?

Everybody’s always said that, and I don’t take it that way. I think it’s a physical sport. You have to move just like you do (in other sports) and use muscles. A lot of people can’t bowl. … I believe it is a sport.

What’s the most difficult part about the sport?

It’s a mind thing. Bowling’s like 75 percent mental, is what it’s said to be. It’s probably like 85 with me, because I just have to not think about it, and I just roll the ball the same way every time.