It was a long wait for Lawrence High senior Ethan Huslig. Listening to the results of Wednesday’s Class 6A regional bowling tournament, the announcer started with the top-10 medalists and top-three teams.

Huslig finished just outside of earning a medal, but he figured he had a 50-50 chance to earn an individual qualifying spot for next week’s state tournament. When the announcer read his name, Huslig let out a yell.

For the first time in Huslig’s career, he was headed to state — one of five city bowlers to qualify at Royal Crest Lanes.

A few minutes after letting the news sink in, Huslig’s mind flashed back to the start of his high school bowling career. As a freshman, he was an alternate on the junior-varsity squad, sitting out some meets while keeping scores of his teammates.

“I’ve been working my hardest,” Huslig said. “I’m happy. I can’t stay still.”

Huslig secured his spot at state by bowling a 592 three-game series and a 219 in his final game. He credited Lawrence assistant coach Larry Burton for “keeping me in line” and resurfacing his main bowling ball so it would hook more when it rolled down the lane.

Fellow LHS senior Javier Lemmons will return to the state tournament for the third time. Lemmons finished fourth individually with a 651 series, including games of 236 and 224.

“Going with (Lemmons) will be awesome,” Huslig said. “He’s been there before so he’ll probably help me out through it. I’m ecstatic.”

Free State junior Bayn Schrader went to state last season when the entire FSHS boys team qualified for state. This year, he’ll return as an individual. Schrader took ninth individually with a 617 series.

Bowling on his home lanes, Schrader said he was “extremely nervous” but he was consistent by reaching the 200s in all three of his games.

“I was just in the right mindset,” Schrader said. “I was just focusing on the next frame, not focusing on the game overall. Just focusing on the next ball.”

The LHS boys took fourth in the team standings, finishing 153 pins shy of a top-three spot to qualify for state. Free State placed sixth.

Knight, Evans qualify for state

Free State senior Sapphie Knight was brought to tears after her team’s final Baker-formatted game. It hit her that she was nearing the end of her high school career.

She will have one more meet.

When her teammates started to tell her, “Good job” and “Congratulations,” she had an idea that she might be headed to state. It was official when she heard her name called as an individual qualifier with a 529 series.

Free State’s girls team took fourth, 168 pins away from a state-qualifying spot. Lawrence finished fifth.

“It’s kind of shocking and I’m still kind of shaking,” said Knight, who will go to state for the first time.

Lawrence High senior Holly Evans placed 10th individually, earning a medal and a spot at state. A four-time state qualifier, Evans bowled a 553 series.

“It’s a big honor,” Evans said. “It shows I’ve worked hard for it.”

Class 6A regional

Wednesday at Royal Crest Lanes

Boys team scores (top 3 qualify for state): Junction City 3384, Washburn Rural 3372, Manhattan 3354, Lawrence 3201, Wichita East 2891, Free State 2883, Topeka 2789, Gardner Edgerton 2573, Wichita Southeast 2518.

Individual state qualifiers (top 6 on non-state qualifying teams): Cody Sullivan, THS, 653; Javier Lemmons, LHS, 651; Thomas Hagler, WE, 639; Bayn Schrader, FS, 617; Ethan Huslig, LHS, 592; Ben Waliczek, WE, 589.

FSHS boys results: 9. Bayn Schrader 204-200-213 — 617; 19. Joey Taylor 180-187-186 — 553; 33. Porter Neidow 173-145-172 — 490; 37. Ashton Owen 157-159-157 — 473; 49. Ryan Flakus 145-136-122 — 403; 50. John Hamer 138-132-131 — 401.

LHS boys results: 4. Javier Lemmons 236-191-224 — 651; 12. Ethan Huslig 192-181-219 — 592; 14. Jayden Cress 170-208-209 — 587; 16. Isaac Cox 201-201-175 — 577; 23. Hunter Krom 179-158-197 — 534; 26. Adonis Stanwix 170-206-150 — 526.

Girls team scores (top 3 qualify for state): Washburn Rural 3101, Wichita East 3021, Junction City 2810, Free State 2642, Lawrence 2616, Topeka 2361, Manhattan 2246, Wichita Southeast 2221, Blue Valley North 2178, Gardner Edgerton 2143.

Individual state qualifiers (top 6 on non-state qualifying teams): Maci Nemecheck, THS, 567; Tiffany Clemens, WSE, 567; Holly Evans, LHS, 553; Zoe Johnson, MAN, 541; Sapphie Knight, FS, 529; Shawntasea Patterson, THS, 516.

FSHS girls results: 15. Sapphie Knight 222-152-155 — 529; 21. Nikki Miele 169-149-159 — 477; 25. Lexie Lockwood 132-149-190 — 471; 28. Gabbie McCurdy 148-157-146 — 451; 29. Raegan Finkeldei 166-136-145 — 447; 36. Sydney Jordan 126-161-128 — 415.

LHS girls results: 10. Holly Evans 213-181-159 — 553; 19. Diamonique Vann 173-203-132 — 508; Emilie Rodman 147-137-184 — 468; 30. Alexis Foster 143-139-147 — 429; 37. Ashley Dykes 149-135-131 — 415; 45. Skyler Scrivner 119-129-121 — 369.