McCook boy bowls through B-3 and into state tournament

McCook’s Blake Willis (second from left) and Hudson Werkmeister (second from right) were top 10 placers in the B-3 district bowling tournament on Wednesday at Lexington. Willis is a top five state qualifier.

Courtesy Photo

cCook’s Blake Willis brilliantly bowled a 235 in his final B-3 district game on Wednesday to reach the Nebraska State Tournament.

Willis was one of only five B-3 competitors who earned a spot at Lincolon for state on Feb. 9.

Bison teammate Hudson Werkmeister placed ninth overall with only 12 pins separating him from reaching state.

Overall, the Bison team nearly defeated eventual B-3 team champion Elkhorn North.

Coach Jana Sides provided more details from this season’s next-to-last big event.

“McCook seeded third in preliminary rounds (missing second by 15 pins) immediately behind #3 state-ranked Elkhorn North. 

Blake Wilis rolled a 6-bagger in the last game to score the highest boys game of the whole day at 235, earning him a spot at state competitions next week. 

Hudson Werkmeister rolled a turkey in every one of the first three rounds-- a “Tri-Turk!” His score earned him a medal for 9th place.

The field was pretty tough and all our bowlers were so focused! 

There were several of our bowlers who missed the cutoff by the equivalent of 1 or 2 frames’ pins so they were all pretty close! 

Blake will join 29 other bowlers from the entire state of Nebraska in the state singles championships.”

Sides added some more about the second varsity boys bowling team since McCook started this sport just last year:

“After the head-to-head preliminary rounds, bracketed matches are bowled Baker-style so teamwork really matters. 

Of all teams there, McCook was the youngest so these boys still have a few years together.  They have really become a team! 

On their own, the boys decided to do a “team dinner” after practice the night before districts.

I am so proud of their efforts to improve their game AND their team unity.  McCook seeded 3rd in the tournament, and won the first round of brackets. 

They lost by a CLOSE margin in the semi-finals to Elkhorn North who went on to earn the district title and the spot for state competition.”

Watch for more about state bowling including other area qualifiers in upcoming editions of the Gazette.

The McCook girls bowling team will compete in their B-3 district for state spots on Wednesday.