The Penn Manor boys’ bowling team this weekend did something no other boys’ team in Lancaster County has ever done — won the state bowling championship!
The boys defeated Conrad Weiser, two games to zero (210-165 and 167-125), to win the title Saturday after besting 10 other teams to reach the finals at North Versailles Bowling Center outside Pittsburgh.
“There’s not a better feeling in the world,” said coach Chris Vital, who commended his bowlers for adjusting to difficult lane conditions that kept the scores of all competitors unusually low.
“We were making our spares, and they weren’t. That’s what it came down to.”
Team members Tanner Simet, Nick Fisher, Austin Curtiss, Zach Bowers, Jordan Wakefield, Michael Morris and Nick Mease were ecstatic to hoist the first-place trophy — the first ever for the Comets, or any other county boys’ team.
Penn Manor finished third in the state in 2015 and has been competitive for several years, so it was nice to finally end up No. 1, said assistant coach Neal Vital.
“We knocked on the door quite a few times over the last few years, so it feels good to finally get one,” he said.
In the individual competition, Tanner Simet placed 19th in the state.
Congratulations to all the bowlers, their coaches and families!