FREE STATE HIGH'S JOSH HERSCHELL warms up prior to Regional Tournament action. Herschell rolled a 633 series Saturday at Gage North Lanes in Topeka, helping the Firebirds to a state-tournament berth.

Topeka ? Three meets ago, Josh Herschell was a member of the Free State High junior varsity bowling team. Three meets ago now seems like ancient history.

Herschell turned in the best Free State individual performance at Saturday’s regional tournament with a 633 series, good for sixth place individually. Herschell, who typically has been the team’s No. 3 or 4 bowler since bumping up to the varsity squad, led Free State to a third-place team finish at North Gage Bowl.

Eight teams participated at the regional meet. The top three – Wichita Heights, Wichita East and Free State – advanced to the Class 6A state tournament, which will take place next week in Lawrence at Royal Crest Lanes.

As for Herschell, he said he began to bowl more effectively lately by picking up spares. Herschell bowled games of 227, 172 and 234 on Saturday.

“My approach is a lot slower now,” Herschell said. “I was walking really fast earlier. You just have better aim when you slow down and you give the ball more time to react, so you have more time to get hook.”

Free State coach Anita Carlson said Herschell occasionally would bowl in the solid 200s, then dip his score the next game. For example, Herschell bowled a 264 in the first game of the dual meet against Lawrence High on Feb. 15. He only bowled a 125 his second game. When Carlson noticed Herschell’s increased consistency, she moved him to the varsity level.

“I know what Josh can do,” Carlson said. “I expected this from him. He kept it together and got it back together, which is a sign of a quality bowler.”

Senior Nick Kennedy bowled a 606 series, which placed him eighth individually. Freshman Robert Wagner bowled a 585 series, good for 15th place.

The Lawrence High boys finished sixth and didn’t qualify for state as a team. However, the top six finishers from the non-qualifying teams receive the opportunity to compete at state. LHS freshman Ben Wyatt will be one of them.

Wyatt turned in a 677 series, the best score by a city bowler for the day. He was the top non-team individual qualifier and placed fourth overall.

“It was a real tough decision to decide who was going to bowl today,” Lawrence High coach Greg Farley said. “There were about three who were on the fence, and (Ben) was definitely one of them. The fact that he’s capable of doing well is not a surprise. The fact that he did on a big stage – that was a surprise.”

As for the Lawrence High girls, junior Tiffany Demaline will have the opportunity to win her second individual state title. She won state as a freshman, but injuries prevented her from repeating last year. On Saturday, Demaline bowled a 598 series and placed third overall.

Farley said Demaline has bowled a few 700 series this season in competition. Basically, don’t be surprised if you see her name at the top of the scoreboard next week at Royal Crest Lanes.

“I think it’s open enough that if she has a good day and we have a good week of practice, she’s definitely in that handful of kids who can win the state title,” Farley said.

As a team, the Lions finished third and qualified for state. Senior Jessica Wyatt, Ben’s older sister, placed 14th individually with a 517 series.

“She just needs to keep her mind straight,” Demaline said of Wyatt. “Sometimes, she gets a little bit upset. But we work really well together. I’ve bowled with her basically every match.”

The two other teams to qualify for state were Leavenworth and Wichita Heights.

Free State finished sixth as a team and did not qualify. Senior Melissa Burnside will compete at state, though. Burnside was the final individual non-team qualifier with a 500 series.