Hamilton County crowned two high school state bowling champions after the finals took place Saturday at Championship Lanes in Anderson.
Noblesville’s Nathan Smith won the Indiana High School Bowling boys state title, while Hamilton Heights’ Keagan Trexler won the girls state championship. Both bowlers began their state quest by finishing in the top four in the qualifying round, then worked their way through the stepladder round to place first.
Smith was the No. 4 qualifier, so he had to climb all the way up the stepladder to win state. He scored a 664 in the qualifying round, which put him into a match with the third seed, Lance Williams of Homestead. Smith won that match 209-155.
Next up for Smith was Warren Central’s LaVon Hampton, the second seed. Smith won 246-203, which advanced him to the final to take on top seed Scotty Kramer III of Muncie Central. Smith beat Kramer 206-192 to claim the state title.
Meanwhile, Trexler was the second seed out of qualifying with a 650. She first awaited a match between the third seed, Portage’s Makayla Himden and fourth seed Madison Murello of Franklin Central, with Himden winning 183-182.
Trexler beat Himden 186-161 to advance to the final, where she took on top seed Katie Fraser of Elkhart Central. Trexler won the state championship by defeating Fraser 168-153.
Smith won the Lafayette semi-state, which took place at Mike Aulby’s Arrowhead Bowl, and led the Noblesville boys team to a fifth-place finish at the semi-state. Trexler finished ninth in the semi-state to advance to state.
In the team event, Portage won the girls state championship and Ben Davis won the boys state title.
In the first playoff match, Portage defeated Franklin Central 386-306. The championship match was a close battle all the way to the end but Portage came out on top with a 359-346 win over Michigan City.
On the boys’ side, Ben Davis and moved on with a 349-292 victory in the first championship match. The Giants then defeated Huntington North by a score a 412-368.
In the championship match, Ben Davis won the first game 196-129. Merrillville didn’t quit. The Pirates roared back with a 276 and 405 total but the Giants responded with their own 235 for a 431 total and the state crown.
Noblesville’s Nathan Smith and Hamilton Heights’ Keagan Trexler won state titles at the Indiana High School Bowling state finals, which took place Saturday at Championship Lanes in Anderson. (Photo provided)