John Young/Journal-World Photo Lawrence High junior Pace Leggins, 17, takes his turn bowling during a tournament held Saturday at Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence.

The crashing of pins and subsequent roaring of the crowd seemed to go on without end during the Free State Bowling Invitational on Saturday.

Royal Crest Lanes was jam-packed with the bowling teams from Lawrence High and Free State, as well as teams from 10 other schools — and that’s not even counting the swarms of family, friends and spectators also in attendance.

The electric environment for the bowling season’s opening event carried different weight for the competitors.

“It’s really a confidence builder for the team because it’s our first home outing and it’s just so fun to have hundreds of people behind you,” FSHS senior Justin Walthall said. “It’s just really exciting.”

“It’s nerve-wracking to have that many people,” FSHS senior Alyson Butler said. “But when you’re doing well it helps to have that much support.”

Walthall (665) and Butler (561) led the Firebird varsity bowlers in high series scoring, and sophomore Austin Bennett (615) and freshman Kierstan Warren (501) tallied the high scores for the Lions.

All 12 schools bowled individually in the morning — highlighted by Topeka Seaman’s Tate Lawson, who bowled a 290 — before breaking into Baker match play in the afternoon.

In match play, five bowlers from each school each bowled two frames apiece in a head-to-head, double-elimination bracket.

“There’s definitely nerves involved, a lot of nerves,” said LHS senior Delaney Dieker, who scored 494 in the morning. “Especially in Baker (match play), because your team is relying on you.”

The FSHS and LHS girls each won their first match, against St. James Academy and Atchison, respectively, before falling in the second round.

The boys teams, however, were pitted against one another in the first round, where the Lions knocked off the Firebirds in two games.

“It was pretty fun,” Bennett said. “I was worried that we wouldn’t beat them because I heard they were really good. But once we did, a lot of nerves went away.”

Seaman ended up winning match play on the girls side, while the Washburn Rural boys took first to end the day.