AREA INDIVIDUAL STATE QUALIFIERSDivision I boys: Soddy-Daisy — Tanner Johnson, Joseph Leffew, Allyn Pickett, Cody Hunter; Bradley Central — Cody Rymer, Gavin Bishop, Hayden Bishop; Central — Reggie Long.Division I girls: Soddy-Daisy — Niki Bell, Ciara Long, Kylee Saunders; Walker Valley — Lauren Smeltzer, Chelsea McCormack, Sondra Combs; Chattanooga Christian — Hannah Goodwin; McMinn County — Samantha Derrick.Division II boys: Baylor — Brandon Robertson, Sho Takiguchi; McCallie — Evan Speicher, Daniel Stone, C.J. Moffat, John Markley.Division II girls: GPS — Kara Maynord, Sydney Leech, Sara Griffith, Corey Swafford, Madison Boyd.
Girls Preparatory School never has reached a final in the state bowling tournament.
But the Bruisers never have been 20-0 going into the event, as they are this year. Having dominated the East/Middle Region, they also have the highest team average in TSSAA Division II this season and have five individual state qualifiers bowling today. Three other GPS girls have averages high enough to qualify, just not enough games.
This year’s bowling Bruisers are going to Smyrna with the intention of joining the school’s big collection of state champions, but knowing they must beat Pope John Paul II in the quarterfinals (1 p.m. EST Friday) and then likely defending champion St. Agnes to get to their first final.
Their old nemesis, West No. 1 seed St. Benedict, probably would be waiting. After three consecutive years of beating GPS in the semifinals, the Cordova team edged the Bruisers by 20 pins in last year’s quarterfinals and went on to finish second.