Wayne boys, girls bowling teams headed to state

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The Wayne High School bowling teams competed in the Class A-4 District event Feb. 1 at King's Lanes in Norfolk.  

Both the girls and the boys teams were looking to go back-to-back after winning the District competition in 2021.  

Both teams would go on to defend and win the Class A-4 District and will be bowling in the Class A State Bowling tournament in Lincoln on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Sun Valley Lanes.

In girls action the Lady Blue Devils started out the day bowling well.  The team (Brianna Nissen, Catherine Rutenbeck, Riley Haschke, Jersi Jensen, Jamie Janke, Joslyn Johnson, and Lindsay Niemann) bowled a score of 789 putting Wayne up by 100 pins over Humphrey Lindsay Holy Family and Thurston County. 

Leading the way for Wayne in game one was Brianna Nissen (202).  Also scoring were Jersi Jensen (173), Riley Haschke (168), Jamie Janke (123), and Catherine Rutenbeck/Lindsay Niemann (123). 

Game two found the Blue Devils struggling a bit to find the groove.  The girls continued to battle and a spark from freshman Lindsay Niemann, throwing five strikes in a row to end the game after being subbed for Rutenbeck. This pushed the Blue Devils to a 738 pin total. 

Scoring for Wayne in game two were Catherine Rutenbeck / Lindsay Niemann (164), Jamie Janke (163), Jersi Jensen (152), Brianna Nissen (144), and Riley Haschke (144).  

Game three found the Blue Devils bowling their best game of the day (838). Lindsay Niemann continued her hot play and led the way with a day high score, of both the boys and girls, of 227. Other scorers were Jamie Janke (175), Riley Haschke (156), Brianna Nissen (144), and Jersi Jensen (136).  

After the first three games the Lady Blue Devils held a comfortable 275 pin lead.  The Baker games found the teams of Brianna Nissen, Lindsay Niemann, Joslyn Johnson, Riley Haschke, Jersi Jensen, and Jamie Janke cruise to a 430 pin victory over second place Lindsay Humphry Holy Family.  

Individually, Wayne had four medalists led by District Champion Brianna Nissen and followed by Jamie Janke and Jersi Jensen (tied for third) and Riley Haschke (seventh). 

Those four bowlers will bowl in the individual portion of the State Tournament Monday at Sun Valley Lanes Monday, Feb. 7 starting at 11 a.m.

"So proud of these girls! They came in and took care of business today. They came out together and helped to push each other to the big win today. I take Brianna, Jersi and Jamie for granted sometimes because they are just so steady and have been bowling so well all year, but wow they just always show up for us," said Coach Josh Johnson.

"But it was Riley and today Lindsay that really stepped up for us and helped to push it over the top.  All year it was someone that would step up. Some days it was any of these five and some days it was Joslyn or Catherine who would do it for us. They are all such a great group of girls to coach, I couldn't be happier.  Now we head down to State and see if we can make some noise down there again," Coach Johnson said.

The Wayne boys team (James Dorcey, Brooks Kneifl, Shayne Geidner, Calvin Starzl, Brogan Foote, Jacob Anderson, and Jaden Dramse) came out and struggled in the early going of Class A-4 District competition.  

After a game of 688 in game one Wayne found themselves quite a ways back in the standings and the pin total. Game one scorers for Wayne were James Dorcey (148), Shayne Geidner (147), Brooks Kneifl (140), Calvin Starzl (137), and Brogan Foote (116). 

In game two, the Blue Devils continued to battle and struggled to find a groove. A team score of 760 left the Blue Devils a ways back still.  Scoring for Wayne in game two were Calvin Starzl (187), Brogan Foote (158), Shayne Geidner (148), James Dorcey (143), and Brooks Kneifl / Jacob Anderson (124). 

By game three, Wayne would find their groove. 

 A day high score of 929 vaulted the Blue Devils into a 75 pin lead going into the Baker games.  Brogan Foote (224), Calvin Starzl (199), and Senior Jacob Anderson (194) helped lead the Blue Devil comeback.  

Also scoring for Wayne were James Dorcey (157) and Shayne Geidner (154). 

The Baker games found the Blue Devil lead slip a bit through two games down to about 40.

A day high game three Baker game of 213 put the Blue Devils back up by 100 pins. 

Wayne would do just enough to hold on through the next two Baker games and come out on top.  The team will also compete in Lincoln on Feb. 8 at Sun Valley Lanes in the Class A State Championship. 

Leading the way individually for the Blue Devils was District Runner Up Calvin Starzl and fifth place medalist Brogan Foote.  

Those two individuals will compete in the individual portion of the tournament on Monday, Feb. 7 at Sun Valley Lanes. 

"I am extremely proud of all of these boys. They all battled hard all day but never gave up. They found a way to come back and win.  Senior Jacob Anderson gave us a great spark and steady play. He's been waiting for his time and he has really stepped up lately.  Starzl and Foote kept battling and finally made a run at the end to head back down to state.  Those two are looking to see what they can do in the individual event too.  All these guys have been fighters all year and I look forward to seeing them all fight down at the State competition,"  Coach Johnson said.