TSSAA state bowling tournament: What to watch for
The TSSAA state bowling tournament gets underway Thursday at the Smyrna Bowling Center. Here's a look at the top Shelby County competitors.
What: TSSAA girls and boys state bowling tournaments
When, where: Thursday-Saturday at the Smyrna Bowling Center
Boys storylines: It could be a big tournament for St. Benedict. The Eagles have won the last two Division II championships and will look to claim their fifth overall as they open team competition against Ezell-Harding Friday at 3 p.m. Senior Nick Agnew is the team's top individual, qualifying fifth with an average of 213.91.
If anyone ends the Eagles' run, it could well be Christian Brothers. The veteran CBHS team is the top seed from the West and have three of the top 10 individuals: senior Will Drummond (213.00, seventh), senior Jackson Stanley (213.00, eighth) and senior Bradley Pounds (209.32, 10th). CBHS opens team play Friday at 3 p.m. against Chattanooga Notre Dame.
Senior Chris Smith of Harding qualified fourth at 215.44 while last year's Commercial Appeal Sports Awards Bowler of the Year and 2017 runner-up, Jimmy Morrow of MUS, enters fifth at 214.29.
Collierville leads the way in Division I; the Dragons face Hardin County Friday at 3 p.m. Senior Ross Jenner is the top local qualifier (214.63, 11th).
Girls storylines: Keep an eye on Lauren Davis; the senior from St. Mary's placed third in Division II in 2017 and enters the tournament with the top qualifying average among local bowlers (162.92, third overall). Perennial powerhouse St. Benedict has three of the top 10 individual qualifiers in senior Christina Rochette (150.29, fifth), senior Olivia Webb (147.00, sixth) and junior Alex Pagonas (143.81 ninth) and will be aiming for its eighth team championship when it opens at noon Friday against Chattanooga Girls Preparatory School. St. Mary's opens against Friendship Christian, also at noon.
In Division I, sophomore Jordan Mundt, who qualified 10th at 194.21, leads Bartlett against Murfreesboro Blackman in the team competition Friday at noon. It's a tough opening draw; Blackman features three of the top six individual qualifiers.
Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.