HS Match Recap - Lutheran West
The 2025-2026 KHS bowling season kicked off today against an always strong Lutheran West HS team at Brookgate Lanes in Brookpark. Three of our teams were able to notch their first wins.
The varsity boys have great depth this season with 7 returning bowlers that have significant experience along with a strong freshman class. The luck of the schedule draw had our first match against a team that was at State last year on their home lanes. The first game saw Lutheran West enjoying the conditions as our boys tried to find their bearings on the lanes, which allowed Lutheran West to open a 162-pin lead. The second game we made the right adjustments and got hot, but Lutheran West only dropped a little as we cut the lead to 128 pins heading into the Baker games. Unfortunately Lutheran West kept up their great bowling with to very good Baker games to put away the match. The win went to Lutheran West 2289 to 2106. Freshman Gavin Toothman made his first high school match a memorable one by leading the team with high game (219) and top series (428). Also having great games were Drew Hetsler (202), David Jones (201) & Gus Hoops (200). Congrats also to freshman Ethan Leiby with a respectable 182 for his first varsity game. The team Baker games were 141 & 166.
Our varsity girls are returning 5 bowlers from the team that went to Districts last year along with a large group of talented sophomore girls eager to help. Lutheran West is not fielding any girls bowling teams this year, so we are credited with our first win of the season 1547 to 0. Our girls still bowled a full match and made great adjustments to lanes that we were seeing for the first time ever. Kaitlyn Drew had high game honors (164) and high series (291). Also bowling well were Brooke Yeager (161 game) and Kelly Vargo (286 series). The team Baker games were 143 and 155.
The JV boys utilized their mix of experience and talented incoming freshman in their match against the Lutheran West JV team. The first game was tight as Keystone opened up a 14-pin lead. The second game saw our team really come alive while Lutheran West struggled, which allowed us to open up the lead to 260 pins. Two Baker games later and the match was all Keystone with a final score was 1657 to 1292. Our Baker games were 155 & 115. Andrew Nickolay had high score (202) and high series (348). Also contributing big were Xander O'Brien, Zachary Skomrock and Lucas McMullen.
Our JV girls also came away with a win 872-0. Lutheran West did not have a JV team. Destiny Green had high game (92) while Malenna Andel had high series (170). Our Baker games were 69 and 78.
Our next match has been moved to Saturday, November 22nd against Fairview Park HS at Strikeout Lanes in Wellington - 10am start.