Penn Manor bowlers headed for national competition

The state championship Penn Manor High School bowling team is now headed for national competition.

The Comets team, which won its second straight state title this year, will be competing in the 2017 U.S. High School Bowling National Championship in Smyrna, Tennessee, June 24 and 25.

Led by coach Chris Vital, the boys’ bowling team beat Ephrata March 18 to earn the 2017 PIAA Bowling Championship title at Dutch Lanes. It was the first time in history that a Penn Manor athletic team had won back-to-back state titles.

The bowlers headed for Nationals are Tanner Simet, Austin Curtiss, Nick Fisher, Kyle Shertz, Nick Mease, Dan Mease and Mark Smith, along with Vital and assistant coaches Ed Fisher, Alan Wakefield and Jordan Wakefield.

At least 24 states and 260 bowlers will be represented in the national competition, during which each competitor will bowl 10 to 12 games each day.  The team competition is June 24, and the individual title will be contested June 25.

“My team seems to understand the magnitude of this tourney, and they are all staying mentally prepared,” said Vital. “Having already won back-to-back state titles, this would be icing on the cake for us. We are looking forward to the challenge and hope to make Penn Manor very proud.”

Best wishes, and good luck on the national stage!