By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's bowling teams, led by Makenzie Millard and Dylan Birkenbaugh, got the 2021 season off to a good start while Topeka West's Dason Tidwell started his high school career with a bang in Tuesday's Hayden quadrangular at Gage Bowl.
Seaman swept the team titles while Millard and Tidwell were the individual winners, with Tidwell winning in his first high school meet as a freshman with a 735 three-game series while Millard, a junior who was fifth in the Class 5A-1A state meet a year ago, took girls honors with a 727 series.
Dason Tidwell
Individual runner-up Birkenbaugh (725) was one of three Viking bowlers in the top five as Seaman won the boys championship by a 2,760-2,695 margin over Topeka West. Seaman's girls, meanwhile, swept the top three places en route to a win by a 2,446-2,130 margin over Manhattan.
"We didn't even know if we were going to get (the season) going (due to COVID-19), and I felt bad for the kids not knowing what the heck's going on, but KSHSAA and everybody did the right thing and we got it going,'' Seaman coach Bob Benoit said. "The season's a little bit different and we're missing a meet or two, but at least the kids are getting to bowl and that's the main thing.''
And Benoit was pleased with the way the Vikings began the season.
"I was really proud of the boys, they did very, very well,'' Benoit said. "We've got some kinks we've got to work out. It was the first meet, and with all the craziness that's going on, we've got some things we need to work on, but overall I'm real proud of all the kids, the girls and the boys. They all did really, really well.''
In addition to second-place Birkenbaugh, Seaman got a fourth-place finish from Jack Easum (675) and a fifth from Ethan Burns (653), while the Vikings' Kaitlyn Evans finished second to Millard with a 611 series and Seaman's Katie Price was third with a 589.
Millard said she was pleased with her 727 right out of the gate.
Makenzie Millard
"I'm pretty happy with that,'' said Millard, who finished her day with a 279 game. "The first game the ball started to be a little light, so I switched balls and I felt pretty comfortable after switching.
"It's really different with having to wear masks and having no spectators, but I feel it's going to be a pretty good season.''
Tidwell was also pleased with his performance.
"It's my best ever,'' said Tidwell, who has had an extensive youth career. "I was just trying to find my mark and where to hit.''
Runner-up Birkenbaugh, a senior, said he was somewhat surprised to crack the 700 mark in his season debut.
Dylan Birkenbaugh
"It felt really good,'' Birkenbaugh said. "I didn't expect that. The whole day I just stayed calm and I never expected myself to shoot over a 700 in the first meet. It's a very good start.''
Topeka West's Zach Phillips posted a third-place finish, shooting a 684 series.
HAYDEN QUADRANGULAR
BOYS
Team scores
Seaman 2,760, Topeka West 2,695, Manhattan 2,338, Hayden 2,156.
Individual results
1. Tidwell, Topeka West, 735; 2. Birkenbaugh, Seaman, 725; 3. Phillips, Topeka West, 684; 4. Easum, Seaman , 675; 5. Burns, Seaman, 653; 6. Craft, Manhattan, 638; 7. Rodriguez, Topeka West, 632; 8. Brookens, Topeka West, 614; 9. Millett, Manhattan, 607; 10. Moore, Seaman, 596.
GIRLS
Team scores
Seaman 2,446, Manhattan 2,130, Topeka West 1,787, Hayden 1,756.
Individual results
1. Millard, Seaman, 727; 2. Evans, Seaman, 611; 3. Price, Seaman, 589; 4. Bridges, Manhattan, 575; 5. Whitson, Manhattan, 554; 6. Dechant, Manhattan, 519; 7. (tie) Turkin, Seaman, and Wood, Topeka West, 489; 9. Simons, Hayden, 483; 10. Crawforth, Manhattan, 482.
