Panthers continue to rack up titles

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NORFORK — With all apologies to Green Bay, Wis., there's a new "Titletown."

For the third time in four years, the Norfork Panthers are the state champions in Class 1A-2A-3A high school bowling.

The Panthers knocked down 3,863 pins to beat the host Conway St. Joseph Bulldogs by 140 pins last week at Conway to post their second straight championship. Norfork won its first state title in 2008 and finished fourth in 2009.

Head coach Kevin Bodenhamer reflected on the third title.

"When you win the first one, you think that it will never happen again," he said. "Then you turn around and win a second one, that feels really good too. Now that we've won a third one, you start setting a tradition.

"It's a great feeling for everybody," Bodenhamer added. "For players, for our student body, our faculty and the community of Norfork. We're just glad that we could do it, and it was a fun experience."

After the individual matches, the Panthers trailed the Bulldogs by 14 pins.

"We started off a little slow," said Bodenhamer. "We bowled our individual matches and it was tough to get them all dialed in. Some boys had a tough time hitting the right marks and tried to move their feet and struggled a little bit. We had another one that was ready to come in, in case someone struggled, and we rotated some in."

Things came together for the Panthers in the Baker games — in which five bowlers alternate frames — as Norfork shot games of 192, 189, 232 and 201 to surge to victory. Rusty Hutchins, Johnathan Mrsny, Zeke Harris, Jacob Braun and Kendl Fischer represented Norfork in the Baker games.

"We bowled those four matches, and it was awesome to see our boys bowl a 192, 189, 232 and a 201 in the Baker," said Bodenhamer. "We were doing so well in the third Baker game, that even the other teams that were there were watching our boys. We were hitting everything, making our spares and strikes. It was awesome to see that.

"It was neat to see that other players and coaches were recognizing that the Norfork boys were in the zone today and weren't going to be beat," he added. "Our boys knew it, and the enthusiasm was sky high. We rocketed ahead, and when it was all over, we had one by 140 pins."

Fischer rolled a 660 series to finish as the Silver Medalist in the event for the second straight year. The senior was a member of all three title teams and was still riding the emotions of the win.

"It's still hard to say. I'm still baffled and surprised. This is something else," said Fischer of the third title. "Our school had never won a state championship until we won it our first year. To come home with three out of four, it's amazing. It's a great feeling, something I didn't really expect."

While Fischer may have been surprised by the win, he was confident heading into the event.

"I knew we had what it would take to win," he said. "We had done it before, and I've seen every guy on our team bowl great games. So I knew we could all pull together and do well."

Junior Zeke Harris picked up his second championship ring and knew the Panthers were ready to compete.

"I think we were really confident going in. We bowled pretty much to our potential during the conference tournament," he said. "I had an off night myself, but thank goodness we had Kendl, who stepped up very well for us, and other people bowled great for us. Johnathan Mrsny stepped up and had a big night for us in the state tournament."

Sophomore Jacob Braun earned his first ring and knew experience would lead the team to success.

"I knew we had a lot of people with experience — like Zeke and Kendl — and I knew they would lead us into state. We had a very good year and I was pretty confident, but a little nervous. After we started, I was fine, and we all pulled together as a team."

Despite losing several members of last year's title team, Bodenhamer knew that the Panthers had a chance to make another run.

"We lost a good batch of seniors, but I knew this year's juniors were going to be good," he said. "It was just getting them to practice, which was real easy. We started in the fall and they got to practice every day. They had fun at it, which is good.

"They had that drive, they knew they liked winning last year, and wanted to do it again," Bodenhamer added.

"All of us, we love to bowl. We're always at practice, and to be honest, I don't know if any of us missed a single practice all year," added Harris. "We were there every Wednesday for practice, and a lot of us were there on Sundays to practice as much as we can. Every time we can get to the bowling alley, we work at it. That's what it takes."

Harris also is a member of the school's basketball and baseball teams and compared bowling to the other sports.

"It is a tough, precise game," he said. "If you're off just a couple of boards one way, you could leave a devastating split and that can be a major thing at the tournament. You've got to be right on and focused.

"Whenever you're up there in the team Baker games at the state tournament, it's almost as tough as hitting a baseball," Harris added. "Your legs are shaking and you're nervous, I'm willing to say it's one of the most nervous games that I've been playing."

The Panthers lose just Fischer and Chastan Moser from this year's club, and Bodenhamer says the future is bright for the Panthers.

"Having success, we're having a lot of kids that want to come out and try to compete to make our team," he explained. "We've got a lot of juniors, so we've got to focus in on getting freshmen for next year and a few sophomores.

"Our kids have younger brothers and sisters, and they are liable to be up there on weekends bowling, so we've got a feeder," Bodenhamer added. "They've seen their siblings working on the bowling team, and they want to be part of it when they get old enough. We've a good group and I would say we'll be very good in the future too."

"I think it looks great," added Harris. "We'll have people step up and take Kendl's spot next year. We're still a very young team. Next year, we will have six seniors and a lot of experience."

"Hopefully, we'll get two more rings," said Braun. "I think we have five or six juniors coming back, so we'll have a good shot."

Leaving the team as a three-time champ, Fischer also feels more titles are possible in the future.

"We've got a lot of hope and we've got great players," he said. "I've seen people that have only bowled a fraction of as long as I have, do superb and surpass me. All I have to say is good luck, keep working hard and keep that Norfork spirit."

Fischer also reflected on the end of his career for the Panthers.

"I just hope I've left my mark here to help people and motivate them, to believe my leadership so they will step up and lead the younger ones into success," he said. "I feel that I did what I could, I tried my best and I have no regrets."

Bodenhamer expressed his gratitude to those that supported the Panthers and made this season another smashing success.

"We have to thank Ron Booy, who has been a volunteer coach with us. He helps the boys out a ton at Driftwood Lanes," he explained. "The folks at Driftwood and Chris Krug, if it wasn't for them giving us the opportunity to go up there and bowl on their lanes and it not cost anything, that's a huge asset to us. That also helps us win, having a great facility to go to.

"I've also got to thank Mr. (Mike) Seay (Norfork's superintendent) and Mr. (Bobby) Hulse (Norfork's high school principal), for being there to support and help us," he added. "Anything we need, they're there for us."

Written by

SONNY ELLIOTT
Bulletin Sports Editor