Lakers’ Blakey, South’s Japp fare well at state
By Perry Swack
The KHSAA Bowling State Championships wrapped up last week at Executive Strike and Spare in Louisville. Russell County and South Warren sent representatives to the event, which is in its tenth year of existence as a sanctioned KHSAA sports activity. Area schools Greenwood, Warren Central, Warren East, Barren County, and Metcalfe County all competed in the 1st Region alongside South Warren. Russell County is the only area school to compete in the 2nd Region. The Lakers qualified for the state tournament by way of winning the 2nd Region championship. South Warren’s Conner Japp qualified for the state tournament after finishing third overall at region.
Russell County won the boys’ bowling region title for the second time in school history (2018). In seeding play for the region bracket, the Lakers bowled a two-game score of 1180 which made them the #1 seed for bracket play. From there, Russell County defeated North Hardin in the quarterfinals, John Hardin in the semifinals, and Taylor County in the finale. RCHS also defeated Taylor County in the finals back in 2018. The Cardinals are the most decorated team in 2nd Region Bowling, winning three region titles and placing second five times in ten seasons.
Russell’s Nick Blakey won the region championship by defeating Jake Dicken of Campbellsville, 213-193, in the de-facto semifinal game before knocking off top-seeded Caleb Davis of Central Hardin, 204-195, in the championship game. Blakey continued his hot play into the state tournament where his five-game total of 1115 placed him third overall heading into the final four. He defeated the 4-seed Darius Brown of Manual, 220-211, but lost to 2-seed Lance Morris of Lee County, 225-214. Blakey finished third overall.
Russell County finished first in the qualifying games, posting a two-game score of 1263 (637 and 626). The team’s score was 100 points higher than all other opponents. After beating the 16-seed Campbell County in the opening round (190-137, 207-156, 207-114), the Lakers ran into Manual. The Crimsons clipped Russell County by a mere 31 points across four games. Manual would go on to reach the state final before losing to 1st Region champion, McCracken County, in the championship.
1st Region Breakdown
Six area schools competed in the 1st Region Tournament – South Warren, Greenwood, Warren East, Barren County, Warren Central, and Metcalfe County. South Warren entered the tournament looking to repeat as champion for the first time since McCracken County won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. The Spartans finished fifth in qualifying and defeated 12-seed Warren Central and 4-seed Graves County to set up a semifinal showdown with top-seed McCracken County. The Mustangs knocked out the Spartans, 578-469, before defeating Daviess County to win the region event.
Greenwood placed sixth in qualifying and defeated 11-seed Owensboro Catholic before bowing out to Apollo in the quarterfinals of bracket play. #10 Barren County beat #7 Warren East, but then the Trojans lost to 2-seed Daviess County in the quarterfinals.
Conner Japp of South Warren placed second in qualifying with a five-game score of 1137. His performance qualified him for the finals of the individual championship. Warren East’s Preston Wilson just missed on the finals, finishing fifth overall with a five-game score of 1076. Teammate Bryan Gravil posted a five-game total of 1015 to finish in eighth place.
Japp went on to compete at the state tournament where he finished in 14th place with a total score of 597.
Other Region Scores from Area Teams (with their overall finish)
1st Region
Warren Central
9. Dakota Pedigo 615
31. Caige Galloway 488
47. Cade Stephens 392
50. Colby Monarch 357
South Warren
13. Conner Proctor 593
15. Jayden Martin 592
17. Carter Collins 570
Barren County
18. Kaydn Hargis 567
23. Ryan Smith 527
25. Nathan Jones 520
51. David Neal 327
Warren East
22. Andrew Summers 529
35. Nick Wade 475
Greenwood
28. Jackson Welch 501
29. Ayden Sprowles 495
39. Isaiah Willis 455
40. David Weldon 447
Metcalfe County
37. Will Denham 472
43. Tayde Capshaw 425
44. Tyler Jessie 411
2nd Region
Russell County
6. Jason Womak 1011
12. Zachary Kean 586
25. Dylan Stringer 511
