Wichita ? Lawrence High’s boys bowling team won the 2009 KSHSAA Regional Tournament, while the Free State girls placed third on Saturday. Both teams will advance to the March 6 state tournament in Olathe.

The Lawrence High boys won the regional with 2,632 points, while the Free State High girls placed third with 2,131.

“These kids hung in together and did the thing they have been planning to do all year, focus hard enough on what really mattered to them,” getting to state,” LHS coach Tom Birt said.

LHS was led by Tanner Kilmer and Ben Wyatt, who placed third and fifth respectively. Kilmer had a 705 series and Wyatt 684. Chad Boyd placed 15th, Josh Russell 19th and Tyler Bailey 24th.

“They brought it when it mattered,” Birt said.

Christina Picicci (243-162-215–620) led the way for the Free State girls and was followed by Amelia Firns-Hubert (170-177-167–514) and Megan Bastemeyer (135-181-193–509).

“My adrenaline was going just as much as theirs,” Free State coach Anita Carlson said. “I told them the other day that I believed in them, but now they had to believe in themselves. I’m extremely proud and excited for them.”

The top three teams from the boys and girls brackets advanced to state. After that, the top six individuals from teams that did not qualify also advanced.

Free State boys senior Andrew Schonweis (236-203-201–640) was one of the six on the boys side to advance individually.

LHS’ Danielle Husted placed 15th with a 522 series and qualified individually.