WV bowlers head to state with high hopes

YAKIMA, Wash. — There are a lot of similarities between last year’s West Valley bowling team and this year’s, starting with the fact that its top five bowlers are back.

But there’s also one key difference, according to coach Brad Cramer. He firmly believes these Rams have a good shot at a top finish at state this time around.

“I’m really hoping that our experience and the tough district we had will help us,” Cramer said of the two-day event Friday and Saturday at Narrows Plaza Bowl in Tacoma. “We have legitimate hopes of bringing back a trophy.”

West Valley, which finished eighth last year, is one of eight teams in this year’s Class 3A-2A event that features six team games Friday and 14 Baker games  Saturday.

Defending champion Bremerton returns, but runners-up Shelton and Kennewick have moved up to 4A.

“Bremerton’s scores are comparable to what we’ve been shooting this year, and without Shelton and Kennewick, that kind of opens things up,” Cramer said. “On the other hand, five (of the eight) teams were there last year.”

West Valley’s state run, which included the district championship, has been built on a balanced attack in which the averages of its top five bowlers are within seven pins of each other.

The group features seniors Sam Sutton (167 average), Amber Pearson (163) and Becky Pearson (162), junior Mandy Cramer (160) and sophomore Alyssa Deaton (161).

The other team members are senior Liz Tikriti and freshman Mikalyn Campbell.

The first five will bowl in Friday’s team games, with Tikriti and Campbell rotating in and out for Sutton, who has a music competition at Central Washington University this weekend, in the Baker games, Cramer said.

“We’ve never had to rely on one person to carry us,” Cramer said. “All year, when someone would struggle, someone else would pick us up. That balance is really important.”

That depth will be particularly crucial during the Baker games, something the Rams have excelled at this season, averaging about 160 per game, compared to their 130 average at state last year.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re excited going over,” he said. “We’ve been pretty consistent in that department.”

Also taking part at state are Selah’s Holly Wood and Danielle Erickson in the 3A-2A individual competition, and Davis’ Erin Socha in the 4A individual event.

All five of the West Valley bowlers will also be eligible for individual honors, which will be contested on Friday.

Wood and Erickson are returning participants, having finished 26th and 27th last year. Becky Pearson was 21st.

Wood averaged 177 and Erickson 174 in three district games, and their season averages are 163 and 159, respectively.

Socha averaged 174 in her three district games, 13 more than her season average.