By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights bowler Henry Schattilly turned in a very solid 2023 season as as a freshman, narrowly missing a trip to the Class 5A-1A state tournament.
But Schattilly has taken a big step forward this winter, including the individual championship in Wednesday's five-school Shawnee Heights meet at Gage Bowl.
Schattilly recorded a season best 673 series on Wednesday, edging Piper's Darron Spak by a single pin, and Schattilly has now recorded four straight 600-plus series to open the season.
"I've been doing way better than I did last year,'' Schattilly said. "I've gone from a 197 average to so far 207 out of all our meets this year. For this being just my third year of bowling, it's amazing.''
Now Schattilly has his sights set on a state berth for himself and for Shawnee Heights as a team.
"One of the goals this year is to hopefully get the whole team to state and if not make it as an individual, hopefully with two or three other guys,'' he said.
Schattilly led the way as Shawnee Heights won the boys team title by a 2,488-2,452 margin over Piper while Evan Jones rolled a 621 series, Caden Cochrane a 608, Chevy Stallbaumer a 555, Evan McGilton a 512 and Donavan Davis a 510.
The T-Birds also swept the girls individual and team championships, with Jasmine Villalobos taking the individual crown with a 546 series and Heights winning the team title by a 1,959-1,861 margin over Basehor-Linwood.
Villalobos and teammate Reese Bell went one-two in the girls standings, with Bell rolling a 534 series.
Addison VanMetre added a 436 series for the T-Birds while Alicia Anderson had a 423 series, Tatum Simpson a 387 and Lauryn Valdivia a 372.
As Shawnee Heights enters the meat of its schedule, including the city championships next Friday, T-Bird coach Scott Mercer is thrilled with the progress his team has made despite the recent weather issues which have altered Heights' practice and competition schedules.
"Last year we were a very, very young team and they have done a ton or work over the summer and in the offseason and the fall,'' Mercer said. "They've done some great things and they have progressed just immensely, boys and girls.
"The effort that these kids are giving, I couldn't be more pleased.''
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS INVITATIONAL
At Gage Bowl
BOYS
Team scores
Shawnee Heights 2,488, Piper 2,452, Lawrence 2,406, Basehor-Linwood 2,121, De Soto 2,036.
Individual results
1. Henry Schattilly, Shawnee Heights, 673; 2. Darron Spak, Piper, 672; 3. Robert Ramsey, De Soto, 653; 4. Ethan Langford, Basehor-Linwood, 633; 5. Brody Merrick, Piper, 627.
Other Shawnee Heights -- Evan Jones 621, Caden Cochrane 608, Chevy Stallbaumer 555, Evan McGilton 512, Donavan Davis 510.
GIRLS
Team scores
Shawnee Heights 1,959, Basehor-Linwood 1,861, Piper 1,789, Lawrence 1,656, De Soto 1,654.
Individual results
1. Jasmine Villalobos, Shawnee Heights, 546; 2. Reese Bell, Shawneee Heights, 534; 3. Kirstin Ussery, Basehor-Linwood, 531; 4. Avery Lovegren, De Soto, 512; 5. Grace Rome, Piper, 511.
Other Shawnee Heights -- Addison VanMetre 436, Alicia Anderson 423, Tatum Simpson 387, Lauryn Valdivia 372.