Although accustomed to clowning around, Free State senior bowlers Christina Picicci and Rob Wagner will bring a serious attitude to the lanes this season, as they are expected to be among the top bowlers on their teams.

Although accustomed to clowning around, Lawrence High bowlers Danielle Husted and Tanner Kilmer will bring a serious attitude to the lanes this season, as they are expected to be among the top bowlers on their teams.

Hopes are high for the city’s high school bowling teams this season, as the boys and girls squads at both Lawrence High and Free State High have their eyes fixed on rolling their way to the state tournament.

Free State will be led by seniors Rob Wagner and Christina Picicci, both multiyear bowlers who enter the season with a ton of experience.

“That is a huge advantage,” FSHS coach Anita Carlson said. “This is their fourth year, and both of them bring so much experience and have experience bowling at state.”

Joining Wagner on the boys squad will be junior returner Justin Walthall and four newcomers, seniors Adam Miltner and Joel Bonner, junior Anthony Currant and sophomore Kale Joyce. Miltner, Bonner and Currant all bowled on the Firebirds’ junior varsity squad last season. But Carlson said they’ve more than earned their stripes during their leap to the varsity level.

“All three of those guys worked tremendously hard, and their improvement has been great for our team,” she said.

Picicci will be joined by three others with varsity experience. Senior Gretel Briand and junior Michelle Schieffer bowled exclusively at the varsity level a season ago. Junior Alyson Butler also spent time at the varsity lanes, as she was called up near the end of the season.

Joining that foursome will be senior Elizabeth Love and junior newcomer McKenzie Dever.

“We have some talented bowlers back this season,” Carlson said. “And our goal is set for both teams to go to state.”

As for the Lawrence High squad, it, too, has huge aspirations for the 2010 season.

The LHS boys will be led by returning seniors Tanner Kilmer and Ben Wyatt. Junior Chad Boyd gives the Lions a dynamic three-man rotation at the top. Joining that group this year will be senior Ryan Miller, a newcomer who rolled a 299 — one pin away from a perfect game — during his first game at tryouts.

“I’m sure we’re going to be very good this season,” LHS coach Tom Birt said. “I know the boys are. We got a great performance out of Tanner at state last year, and we expect to be back there this year.”

Birt said several Lions still were vying for the final spots in the boys varsity lineup.

The girls will be led by returning seniors Danielle Husted, Alexah Gudenkauf, Jamie Jarrett and Raquel Rodriguez. Beyond that bunch, however, sits a stacked group of young and talented female bowlers.

“We have a number of really good young girls this year,” Birt said. “Any one of them could make a huge impact on our girls team, and our goal is to get both teams to state.”

Birt said 41 athletes tried out for the 26-person team. Twelve will make up the girls roster, 12 more will make up the boys roster, and each side will have one alternate.

Free State kicks off its season tonight at the Sumner Invitational. Both teams will be in action Saturday at the Free State Invitational at Royal Crest Lanes.