Boiselle leads state bowling

Adjustments played a big role as some 200 of Hawaii's top high school bowlers encountered the well-oiled lanes yesterday at the Fort Shafter Bowling Center during the first day of the 2005 Billy Tees Hawaii High School Athletic Association Bowling Championships.

Leilehua's Jennifer Boiselle, who had some previous experience with Fort Shafter's lanes, averaged 195 over six games to pace the girls competition a week after claiming the Oahu Interscholastic Association title.

"I was just hoping to be in the top five somewhere and beat a couple of people today," Boiselle said. "I've bowled here about eight times with my travel league, so I knew the lanes would be oily, so I had to adjust my mark."

After posting a 165 in her first game of the day, Boiselle regrouped and rebounded to post scores of 219, 213, 194, 178 and 201 to close her day on the hardwood with 1,170 total pins.

"So far I guess I'm pretty happy," said Boiselle, who finished fourth at last year's state championships.

"I'd like to get a 550 or so tomorrow to keep my score up and give me a chance."

All of the bowlers rolled six games yesterday and will finish up with three more today.

Kapolei senior Cherish Saunders, making her third appearance at the states, is just 12 pins behind Boiselle with 1,158, thanks largely to a final round 222.

"I think I could've been better," Saunders said. "I could've been more focused on hitting my mark than I was, but I can try to do better tomorrow. The lanes were challenging, but once I got the hang of it, it got a little easier. There's a lot of competition this year, and I have to keep my head in the game and not focus on everybody else."

Iolani's Joy Ishibashi credited familiarity for some of her success on the first day. Ishibashi posted an 1,109 to occupy fourth place on the leaderboard going into the final day, just four pins behind McKinley's Elyse Takashige, who bowled the best game of the day by a female, with her final-round 231.

"Bowling here during the season kinda helps," Ishibashi said. "We play here a lot during the ILH season and it helped me read the lanes a lot better."

With this year's tournament returning to Oahu after being held in Hilo and on Kauai for the past two years, many bowlers have also had to adjust to different travel plans.

"I'm a little more confident this year, not as nervous," said Ishibashi. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still nervous, but being at states for the third time and not having to travel is nice."

Mililani's girls had a very strong showing as they knocked down 5,096 pins to lead the pack.

"We've only practiced here once before and that was last night," said Mililani assistant coach Andrae Lara. "I give the girls all the credit. The lanes are kinda tricky, so today was definitely a game of spares."

"The lanes were well-oiled during the early games, but by the third game or so, they dried up, so everyone had to make some adjustments and I felt that our girls did a good job with it."

Fellow OIA members Kalani (4,822), Pearl City (4,808) round out the top three girls squads.

In the boys competition, Damien's Micah Seki took the individual lead with 1,203 pins. His best game was a 290.

James Pirtle of Pearl City is in second with 1,179 pins, followed by Maui's Jacob Davis with 1,168.

Mililani leads the team standings with 5,509 pins, followed by Hawaii Baptist (5,447) and Waiakea (5,322).

The State Bowling Championships conclude today.