CLASS 5A GIRLS BOWLERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

 
TAYLOR BRIM, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Brim is back as she tries to help the Thunder get back to the state tournament and get her third consecutive state medal in the process. After finishing as the state runner-up in 2024, Brim found her way back to the medal stand in 2025 as she was fifth with a score of 602, while the Thunder took fifth overall. She was at her best when it was needed most as her 602 was also her high series of the season. Brim also had a high game of 230 at Olathe Lanes East and a season average of 171.  
 

LEAH CRAWFORD, SEAMAN
 
Crawford headlined a talented freshman class for the Vikings last year with Crawford and Kayla Duncan both earning spots on Seaman’s state team that wound up placing third at the Class 5A state meet for the third straight season. Crawford’s 182 average tied for second on the team with sophomore Paige Snyder, who was the United Kansas Conference champion as a freshman in 2024, both trailing Claire LaDuke. Crawford took eighth at the league meet, but then captured the Class 5A regional title with a career-best 630 series. Crawford just missed a top-20 finish and state medal, rolling a 532 series at state that placed her 22nd, nine pins from the top 20. Crawford is one of six returners from last year’s state team as the Vikings going into the 2026 as one of the favorites for the title. 
 

 
SOPHIA HILL, EMPORIA

One of three freshmen on Emporia’s team that finished seventh at the Class 5A state meet, Hill had arguably the biggest impact of that trio. She was a state medalist as a freshman, taking 19th with a 542 series at state. She ranked fifth on the team with a 144 average while her season-best series of 542 was third among Spartans trailing just Taylor McKay’s 628 and Payton Jansen’s 554. Hill is one of five returners from Emporia’s state team as the Spartans look to challenge for a top-three trophy this season.
 

 
KENZIE KALB, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Kalb, a senior, played a big role in Maize South’s second-place team finish in Class 5A last season. She opened the state meet with a season-high 224 game en route to a 601 series – also a season best – to finish seventh in individual qualifying. One of two top-20 finishers for the Mavericks, Kalb and Maize South made a late push in the Baker round to settle into the runner-up spot, 29 pins behind champion Bishop Carroll. Kalb, a two-time state qualifier, also rolled a 576 series last season and finished with a 168 average. With the Mavs replacing four seniors from last year’s state team, Kalb’s performance will continue to be key moving forward.
 

 
CLAIRE LADUKE, SEAMAN

Seaman finished third as a team at state for the third straight year with LaDuke leading the way for the Vikings last year as one of two juniors on a state team loaded with underclassmen. LaDuke was the lone individual placer for the Vikings at the state meet, finishing eighth with a 582 series. That was nearly 100 pins lower than her season best of 673, which ranked as the 14th-best overall series in the state last year. Her 201 average was fifth highest in the state as she was one of just six girls to carry a season average of 200 or higher. LaDuke will look to help the Vikings win their first state title since 2022 with Seaman returning its entire state team from a year ago. LaDuke, who had a high game of 257 (18th best in the state) was a first-team All-Class 5A pick.
 

EMMA LOURENTZOS, LANSING

As a freshman last season, Lourentzos led the Lions as she earned a state medal in her first go-round on the high school circuit. She peaked at the right time, taking 14th overall with a series score of 560, which also was her high-series for the season. Prior to that, her highest was a 488 in early February. Her high game of 203 was also at the state meet. Lourentzos posted an average of 151 for the year.  
 

AVERY LOVEGREN, DE SOTO

De Soto featured two of the top bowlers in 5A last season and Lovegren was one of those as she will be returning to lead the Wildcats in 2026. Lovegren was the state runner-up in 2025 as a sophomore with a 647 series score, which was also her high series for the season. She bowled over 200 in each of the three games at state, including a 233, as she finished just one spot above senior teammate Kira Lynch (621), who took third. Lovegren bowled a high game of 234 at Royal Crest earlier in the year and had an average of 183.  
 

BROOKLYNN MAYBERRY, GREAT BEND

Mayberry joined older sister Zoey as a first-team all-conference bowler and state placer last season. She capped her sophomore season with an 18th-place state medal after recording her high series of 544. Mayberry bowled on the Panthers’ state championship team as a freshman in 2024. She owns a career average of 154.89. Her high game last season was a 190 she bowled in Game 3 at state. In league competition last season, Mayberry posted a 149.14 average to secure her first-team All-Western Athletic Conference spot after earning second-team honors as a freshman.
 

ZOEY MAYBERRY, GREAT BEND

Mayberry is the reigning Western Athletic Conference bowler of the year for the Panthers. She stepped up as Great Bend’s leader last season as a junior, filling the shoes of former Panther star Kaylin Wahlmeier, who helped lead Great Bend to back-to-back Class 5-1A state titles in 2023-24. Mayberry captured her third state medal last year, taking 10th with a season-best 661 series. She placed 13th at state as a sophomore and was sixth as a freshman on Great Bend’s title teams. Her season average was 184.89 last year with a high game of 257. She posted a 191.88 average in conference meets to secure first place in the WAC by seven pins ahead of runner-up Kyleigh Whitehurst of Garden City.
 

 
TAYLOR MCKAY, EMPORIA

McKay was the unquestioned leader for the Spartans last year, leading them to a seventh-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament. McKay, a second-team All-Class 5A selection, held a 172 average that was 20 pins better than any other Spartan. She was the lone Spartan to roll a 600 series last year, posting a best of 628. Her high game of 277 was the fifth-best game overall in the state last year. McKay rolled a 575 at state, placing her 11th. She’s one of five returners for Emporia off last year’s state team as the Spartans look to challenge for a team trophy this season.
 

 
FAITH PELZ, EISENHOWER
 
Pelz will try to help Eisenhower return to the Class 5A state tournament as a team after making it as one of three Tiger individuals during her freshman season. An All-5A second-team honoree, Pelz finished first or second individually in 8 of 10 meets, opening the 2025 season with her best series (650) and going on to win the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II and Hutchinson regional titles. Pelz’s 647 at the league meet led the Tigers to the team title. She won the regional with a 587 series, topping eventual 5A individual champion Callie Vargas of Salina South by eight pins. Pelz finished 31^st in her state debut with a 513, but still paced the Tigers last season with a 196 game average. 
 

 
MEREDITH SEAY, BISHOP CARROLL
 
With the top three bowlers graduated from its Class 5A championship team, Carroll will look for greater production from Seay, who capped a whirlwind sophomore season with a 20^th-place finish at state. Seay dropped from varsity to junior varsity in late January, but played her way back onto the varsity for regionals, helping Carroll edge Salina South by five pins at the Hutchinson meet. At state, Seay’s 541 series and performance in the Baker round helped Carroll hold off Maize South for its fifth girls state title. Seay’s high game (224) and high series (575) came in JV meets, but she closed tenpin qualifying at state with a 220 to earn the final individual medal.
 

ADDISON VAN METRE, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS

Van Metre earned second-team All-Class 5A honors last year after leading Heights to a sixth-place team finish at last year’s Class 5A state tournament. She carried the highest average for the T-Birds a year ago, holding a 180 average that was boosted by a high game of 235. Her average was 17 pins higher than teammate Jasmine Villalobos, who joined Van Metre as a state placer. Van Metre had a high series of 649 that earned her the United Kansas Conference individual championship, and posted a 559 series at state to place 15th, one pin and one spot ahead of Villalobos. Not only does Van Metre return, but all except for Villalobos do as well as Heights looks for a top-three finish.