Lawrence High School senior Diamonique Vann rolls on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 at Royal Crest Lanes.

When the Lawrence High and Free State bowling teams competed in the City Showdown dual Thursday at Royal Crest Lanes, it was a different atmosphere than usual.

Several seniors celebrated Senior Night in their final regular season meet. It was much more fast-paced, to the delight of bowlers, because there were only two teams. With both schools practicing alongside each other for the last month — or four years for the seniors — it’s a light-hearted rivalry.

For Lawrence senior Holly Evans, it brought out the best in her. She posted a season-best 635 three-game series to win an individual title. Lawrence’s teams swept the dual, winning by 200 pins on the girls side and 285 for the boys.

“It was a lot of emotions,” Evans said. “It’s good competition. Free State has been doing really well this year. I’m proud of all the girls today.”

Evans bowled a 211 in her second game and finished with a 226. Hitting her spares, she described her philosophy as, “Don’t fix what ain’t broke.” Fellow LHS senior Diamionique Vann was second overall with a 616 series, including a 224 in her first game.

Free State was led by sophomore Nikki Miele (535 series) and senior Sapphie Knight (521). After a slow start, Knight bowled a 211 in her second game. She celebrated Senior Night alongside Megan Donner, who bowled for Free State’s junior-varsity team.

“The second game, I just focused on being the best I can,” Knight said. “My family came out and supported me, I just wanted to make them proud.”

Knight, who called the Senior Night dual “extra special,” showed the crowd how much fun she was having in each frame. After strikes, she raised her arms and hugged teammates. Always a vocal supporter to her teammates, and even opposing bowlers, she said all the fun helps take the stress away from the mental side of the game.

“I’ve been the senior who has been here all four years and it’s definitely been a big part of growing up,” Knight said. “Bowling has definitely taught me more than school actually has, I would say. … Hopefully showing people that it’s fun gets more people out to bowl and kind of be a bigger sport.”

Lawrence High’s boys bowling team featured five seniors: Hunter Krom, Adonis Stanwix, Ethan Huslig, Isaac Cox and Javier Lemmons. Naturally, freshman Jayden Cress took the top spot with a season-high 683 series. His lowest game was a 211.

One lane over from Cress, Lemmons watched with pride. He coached Cress when his younger teammate participated in a Saturday morning youth bowling league.

“I didn’t expect it to be this much fun,” said Lemmons, who bowled a 551 series. “It was nice bowling with my man Jayden. Even though I didn’t do too well, I’m glad he did well.”

Right behind Cress, Krom produced a 608 series with a high game of 211 and Stanwix bowled a 558.

Free State sophomore Joey Taylor posted a team-high 579 series while Porter Neidow and John Hamer followed with a 542 and 531, respectively. Senior Andrew Hall, in his first meet, competed for the JV squad.

In addition to everything accomplished on the lanes, the dual raised more than $500 in support of Free State teachers Nolan and Laura Henderson. Their 4-month-old son, Grit, is battling a rare skeletal muscle cancer at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Both schools will compete in their Class 6A regional Tuesday at Royal Crest Lanes. The boys will start at 9:35 a.m. and the girls will follow at 1 p.m.

City Showdown dual

Thursday at Royal Crest Lanes

BOYS

Varsity team scores: Lawrence 2473, Free State 2188.

LHS varsity: Jayden Cress 211-225-247 — 683; Hunter Krom 204-193-211 — 608; Adonis Stanwix 199-191-168 — 558; Javier Lemmons 171-206-174 — 551; Isaac Cox 131-213-206 — 550; Ethan Huslig 172-205-150 — 527.

FSHS varsity: Joey Taylor 176-200-203 — 579; Porter Neidow 190-173-179 — 542; John Hamer 180-192-159 — 531; Ryan Flakus 151-187-169 — 507; Bayn Schrader 150-143-188 — 481; Noah Mitchell 141-108-164 — 413.

GIRLS

Varsity team scores: Lawrence 2273, Free State 2073.

LHS varsity: Holly Evans 198-211-226 — 635; Diamonique Vann 224-181-211 — 616; Skyler Scrivner 153-167-194 — 514; Ashley Dykes 177-154-155 — 486; Emilie Rodman 143-168-162 — 473; Lana Chieu 135-168-150 — 453.

FSHS varsity: Nikki Miele 184-157-194 — 535; Sapphie Knight 138-211-172 — 521; Lexie Lockwood 159-169-168 — 496; Raegan Finkeldei 164-175-130 — 469; Sydney Jordan 123-172-153 — 448; Gabbie McCurdy 152-141-142 — 435.