SIOUX FALLS – The Bobcat boys’ and girls’ bowling teams both placed third at the state tournament, held Thursday and Friday at Empire Bowl.
The boys went 2-8 in the regular season to finish ninth in league play.
They were eighth in qualifying at state with a 2,735 pinfall. Gabe Boyer led the way with a 662 series – a few pins shy of all-tourney status.
In bracket play, Boyer, Tyler Rasmussen, Aarick Dicke, Adrian Howard and Stanley Scubelek led the team to wins over Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Sioux Falls Washington and Canton.
Yankton edged Brookings in the next round and the Bobcats fell to the Warriors in a loser’s bracket match for the chance to advance to the final.
Washington won the event.
Other members of the boys’ team were Jack Wu, Dylan Scubelek and Andre Flores.
On the girls’ side, Brookings went 7-3 in the regular season to take third.
The ‘Cats totaled a 2,360 in qualifying to earn the No. 7 seed at state.
They beat West Central, Yankton and Harrisburg/Tea and received their first loss against Sioux Falls Lincoln in bracket play. In a consolation match to qualifying for the final, Brookings fell to Sioux Falls Washington.
The Warriors placed first.
Team members were Brooke Seeley, Janine Warne, Erin Hulberg, Kacee Rhody, Brooklyn Hieb, Teagen Bremmon, Katlyn Pederson, Abby Fitzpatrick and Megan Seeley.
This was the inaugural coaching season for Rick and Kasee Hieb, who were elated by the fight and determination that each and every player showed throughout the season.
“Two third-place finishes! I just can’t even believe how great these kids did,” said Kasee Hieb.
“We are really sad to see the season end but have high hopes for next year. We are losing two from each team but hope that we can bring in some new bowlers next year,” added Rick Hieb.
Some of the regular-season high games and series scores from the league were shot by the Bobcats, including Dicke’s 277 game (11th highest game), Howard’s 264 game (18th highest game) and Boyer’s 692 series (ninth highest series).
Hieb added a 248 game (eighth highest game) and 577 series (17th highest series) on the girls’ side.
Seniors on the BHS teams were Hulberg, Dicke, Pederson and Rasmussen.
