For all the traditions and State Championships on record at Lawrence High that date back to 1914, there is one thing that has eluded Lawrence High athletics: a State bowling championship. With the talent and experience on this year’s team, that could very well change.Senior Tanner Kilmer is a big reason why.

   Kilmer bowled a 683 series which landed him an 8th place finish at last year’s State tournament and led the Lions to a 5th place finish. If the Lions want to improve on last year’s finish, Kilmer will have to take his game to another level — a level he reached on Feb. 16 during a home quad at Royal Crest Lanes.

   Kilmer rolled a 299 (one pin short of a perfect game) during the second game of his three game series. Senior Ryan Miller, who bowled a 299 during tryouts, loved watching Kilmer match the mark he set.

   “It was great, and ironic,” Miller said referring to Kilmer’s 299. “He was relaxed and just having fun with the whole thing. [This] led to the opportunity to shoot that well.”

   Kilmer had been bowling better than ever (increasing his average score by 10-15 pins from last year) up until that quad at on Feb. 16 at Royal Crest Lanes, but since then has really struggled to find his touch.

   “It has been all downhill since then,” Kilmer said. “I have not bowled as good as I would have liked.”

   This would be devastating for most bowlers heading toward the State tournament, but not for Kilmer. While it would be nice for Lawrence High’s best bowler to be at the top of his game for the biggest tournament of the year, Kilmer and his teammates are confident the team will be fine.

   “Luckily it’s a team sport, and I’m on a really good team,” Kilmer said. “Everyone else has been stepping up a lot compared to the beginning of the season, and we are bowling very good right now.”

   Senior Ben Wyatt who placed 8th individually at Regionals with a 626 series, agrees with Kilmer, but also knows how valuable he is to the team.

   “[Kilmer] is a very big part of the team,” Wyatt said. “But if we want to go to State we’ll have to have everybody at the top of their game.”

   The team made it to State by placing 2nd in the Regional in Manhattan, receiving strong scores from Josh Russell (690), who placed 2nd individually, Miller (641), who placed 5th and Wyatt (626), who placed 8th.

   According to Kilmer, this is the best the team has performed in the three years he has been at Lawrence High. Coach Tom Birt agrees and is excited about his teams chances at State.

   “The boys are strong and serious,” Birt said. “I have never seen a group who really support each other and excel in competition.”