Firebirds sweep triangular

Free State senior Matthew Eagle rolls during a tri against Shawnee Mission West and Blue Valley Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 at Royal Crest Lanes.

Free State High’s boys bowling team won its home triangular by 35 pins on Thursday at Royal Crest Lanes, but the Firebirds were in no mood to celebrate.

The Firebirds won their sixth straight meet and it was an afterthought. Disappointment was in the air after they posted their lowest scores of the season — by a long shot.

Only a few lanes down, Free State’s girls bowlers won by 339 pins over runner-up Olathe Northwest with one of their strongest performances of the season.

“Honestly, it was a pretty rough day for all of us, I think,” FSHS senior Matthew Eagle said of the boys’ team. “I don’t know. We just couldn’t find our groove the whole day. We still pulled out the win but it’s still a little concerning. On days like this, you just have to move past it.”

Eagle, who said he was sick, led the Firebirds with a 614 three-game series total, which was second overall. Senior Matt Meseke was third with a 590 and junior Cameron Edens finished fifth with a 572.

As a team, the Firebirds were about 400 pins lower than their season average.

“Our spare game was a little off today,” FSHS coach Burton Gepford said. “It was a little bit harder out there on the lanes, but our spares are what is important. We’re usually pretty good at spares. Today was just an off day.”

Free State was without junior Alex Jimenez, who was out of town but has posted the second-best average on the team this season. The Firebirds refused to let that be an excuse. Instead, it was just a “discouraging” outing on their home lanes and the victory was a small consolation.

“They are looking at their stats and their stats were down way below average,” Gepford said. “It is a good feeling to know that you had your worst day and still finished first. With any sport, the end goal is a ‘W’ and they did that today.”

The FSHS girls bowling team was led by senior Gentry Jordan, who bowled a 544 series and took first place overall. Senior Brianna Burenheide was second with a 530 series and senior Jamie Souders was third with a 526.

“Gentry has been one of our top bowlers ever since Day One she’s been on the team,” Gepford said. “She’s starting to make some changes to strike a little bit more and her score is showing it. I can’t wait to see her continue as the season continues.”

The Firebirds improved throughout each game, knocking down 753 pins in their final game as a team. Jordan, Burenheide, sophomore Morgan Wright and freshman Sydney Jordan all posted scores above 180.

“Today, for the majority of them, they were all doing good,” Gepford said. “We just need to keep working on keeping the team atmosphere positive and keeping our heads up no matter what.”

Knocking down a season-high 2,110 pins, the Firebirds were excited about their progress since the beginning of the season.

Senior Hailey Jump, who broke her right wrist playing softball, rolled a 459 series. She said she practiced left-handed but Thursday was her first time bowling with her right hand after suffering her injury.

“We’ve had some injuries on the team,” Jump said. “There’s people that have been sick. It’s been rough lately, so this is great.”

Free State triangular

Thursday at Royal Crest Lanes

BOYS

Varsity team scores: Free State 2360, Olathe Northwest 2325, SM West 2085.

FSHS scores: 2. Matthew Eagle, 206-238-170 — 614; 3. Matt Meseke, 195-233-162 — 590; 5. Cameron Edens, 187-207-178 — 572; Alex Craig, 200-184-141 — 525; Avery Allen, 167-205-150 — 522; Bayn Schrader, 171-158-179 — 508.

JV team scores: Free State 2024, Olathe Northwest 1837, SM West 1776.

FSHS JV scores: 1. Tom Reno, 135-198-202 — 535; 2. Sam Fanshier, 175-155-202 — 533; 3. Zach Lockwood, 158-164-177 — 499; Cam Edgecomb, 160-156-137 — 453; Cody Thompson, 114-159-119 — 392; Austin Petefish, 88-74-124 — 286.

GIRLS

Varsity team scores: Free State 2110, Olathe Northwest 1771, SM West 1748.

FSHS scores: 1. Gentry Jordan, 174-185-185 — 544; 2. Brianna Burenheide, 156-175-199 — 530; 3. Jamie Souders, 185-183-158 — 526; Morgan Wright, 141-140-183 — 464; Hailey Jump 143-156-160 — 459; Sydney Jordan, 114-120-186 — 420.

JV team scores: Free State 1601, Olathe Northwest 1399, SM West 1248.

FSHS JV scores: 1. Sapphie Knight, 155-130-152 — 437; 2. Ashley Givens, 131-135-128 — 394; 3. Lexie Lockwood, 134-118-139 — 391; 5. Raegan Finkeldei, 114-121-144 — 379; Mamie Rupnick, 110-110-119 — 339; Baily Murphy, 107-57-47 — 211.