Senior Recognition and Rival SMW

Tuesday saw Senior Recognition Night (afternoon) for the Raider Bowling team and a meet against hated Shawnee Mission West and Maranatha.  Rocky the Raider was on hand as the 11 seniors got recognized.  Shelby had her worst outing of the season bowling 174, 130 (gasp), and 179 (483 series, 161 average).  It didn't matter though as her "girls" rallied around her and bowled great easily sweeping the meet.  Freshman, Nia Madison, had the top series for the girls.  Shelby has already brushed off her performance and is looking forward to next Tuesday when we get to bowl against West again (along with SM Northwest).

An unblurry picture of the Baker Tournament 2nd Place Team

Shelby and Rocky the Raider

Cake

Seniors (minus one)

Monday's Announcements

More Bowling (and more snow)

The week started out with no school for Martin Luther King Day on Monday. We were supposed to have the SMNW Baker Tournament on Tuesday (cancelled at the last minute after the kids had already gotten out of school). Snow storm hit Tuesday night so school was cancelled on Wednesday. East was to host Olathe North and SMS Wednesday afternoon and even though they cancelled school, they had the meet. Shelby improved her game a bit bowling a 174, 208, 169 for a 551 series (184 average). She was the top girl Raider bowler but our Lady Raiders got beat by Olathe North. We almost got to watch one of the Olathe North girls bowl a 300 (came up short in the end with a 288). However, we beat East (which is always good).

Today they held the previously postponed Baker Tournament at Park Lanes. Baker format is Bowler 1 bowls frames 1 and 6; Bowler 2 bowls frames 2 and 7; Bowler 3 bowls frames 3 and 8; Bowler 4 bowls frames 4 and 9; and Bowler 5 bowls frames 5 and 10. Sixteen teams competed: best 2 out of 3 games win. Our Lady Raiders beat Turner, Gardner, Olathe North (revenge), before falling to Shawnee Mission Northwest in the championship round 2 games to 1 for a 2nd place finish. Shelby was so very proud of "her girls" - Alyssa O'Brien, Jessie Steffee, Nia Madison, and Kalie Fischer. I am hoping Jessie's mom got a better picture - I can't seem to hold my camera phone still so end up with a blurry mess (that will have to do for now). Next up is Senior night on Tuesday (sob). Go Raiders!

Shelby in the Announcements

In what I hope becoming habit, Shelby made the announcements at school yesterday.

Weather once again has postponed a meet and today's is still in limbo - school was cancelled due to snow but the coaches wanted to try and bowl anyway this afternoon.

It's That Time Again....

Just seems like yesterday I was sitting on some very uncomfortable bleachers in a bowling alley in Wichita, watching my sweet Shelby bowl out of her mind and into 3rd place in the 6A Kansas State Bowling Meet.  Today saw me sitting on a very uncomfortable barstool in a bowling alley in Olathe watching the first SMS Raider bowling meet of the season (vs Olathe Northwest and St. Thomas Aquinas).  Tall barstools are just not great when you are short and your feet don't reach the crossbar.  Anyway, this was technically the second meet but the first one was postponed due to a snow day.  Shelby looked in great form, bowling the best series for the Raider girls - 200, 184, 162 (546 series, 182 average).  She was a tad disappointed in her last game, but the oil patterns had completely broken down, she made adjustments, switched balls, and fought for every pin (had a few wicked splits as well).  Both the Raiders Varsity and JV Girls came in 1st place - the JV Boys did as well - Varsity Boys placed second.  I think this is by far the deepest field South has ever had - should prove to be a great season.  I forgot my camera (of course) but took a pregame shot of Coach T's instructions.

Next up (weather permitting) is a Baker Tournament at Park Lanes tomorrow and SM East and Olathe North on Thursday.  For those interested, the Baker system is a team format where more than 1 bowler comprises the score of one game. The most common would be the 5 person format where bowler 1 bowls frames 1 and 6, bowler 2 bowls frames 2 and 7, bowler 3 bowls frames 3 and 8, bowler 4 bowls frames 4 and 9 and bowler 5 (often referred to as the anchor) bowls frames 5 and 10. The order is set at the beginning of the match but can be changed after the completion of each game.  Shelby's very first meet at South was this format when she was a freshman.  Should prove to be interesting.  Go Raiders!!!!