BOWLING: Las Vegas freshman claims individual state title

In fact, the Wildcats didn’t even win their Sunrise Region quarterfinal against Liberty on Jan. 28.

But now that individual state bowling is sanctioned by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, Gabriella Weis can call herself a state champion after rolling a 628 series on Wednesday to claim the Division I girls title at The Orleans.

“I feel great,” Weis said. “It was my first 600 series ever so I was just really excited and happy.”

The freshman, who has been bowling for almost 11 years, improved on her score in Monday’s regional by 108 pins.

“She shot her best series ever today,” Las Vegas coach Stephen Gaspar said. “She’s bowled well here in the first round of regionals. Some days you got it going. I tried to get her to not over-think things. She stayed calm and was also bowling with a good group of girls.”

Bonanza’s Ashlee McKenna was the Division I girls runner-up with a 616 series, and Foothill’s Morgan Peacha (607) came in third. The Falcons’ Cori Williams and Liberty’s Alana Wise were tied for fourth place at 601.

Tech teammates Crystalene Pineda and Emi Leong topped the Division I-A girls tournament. Pineda claimed the title with a 658 series, and Leong rolled a 593. Summer Smith of Boulder City came in third at 522, and Mojave’s Maraya Gamon finished fourth (486).

Centennial’s Garrett Page ran away with the Division I boys title, rolling a 733 series. Liberty’s James Bumrungjitt placed second (660), and Green Valley’s Joe Gerencser (656) and Nathan Hanuscin (650) rounded out the top four.

Chaparral’s Zach Clark, who started bowling this year, won the Division I-A boys title with a 644 series, which included a 254 in the second game.

“It feels great (to be a state champion),” Clark said. “Now I’m not known anymore as the kid that bowls for Chaparral. I’m the state champion from 2014. It’s great.

“(Now) I’m going to try and be in three or four summer leagues, and I’m going to come back next year. We’re going to win team state.”

Boulder City’s Teagan Smale rolled the day’s best game with 276 in his first game. But Smale, who had a 730 series in the regional round on Tuesday, slowed in the later games to place second (619). Teammate Randall Berkhiemer came in third with a 613 series, and Mojave’s Anthony Gredinger finished fourth at 572.