WICHITA – You might catch one of Buhler senior Cheyann Geesling’s dance moves when she’s in the middle of a bowling competition. Especially when pins are falling.
 
On the other hand, you probably won’t see her doing much analyzing of the scoring monitors above her lane.
 
“Not at all,” Geesling said. “That gets in my head.”
 
But Geesling, who joined the Crusaders program as a sophomore and helped them win a team state title in her first year, sensed something good was happening Friday as she got deeper into the Class 4-1A girls state tournament at Bowlero Northrock. Sure, she was aware of the 224 second game she bowled during the individual qualifying portion of the tournament.
 
Geesling just didn’t know how really good it was.
 
“When we got to the third game, she kind of looked over at me and I kind of winked at her,” Buhler coach Skip Wilson said. “She goes, ‘No way,’ and I said, ‘Yeah. Yeah way.’”

Wrapping games of 217 and 188 around her strong middle game, Geesling rolled the first 600 series of her career – a 629 – to win the 4-1A individual title by 12 pins over Circle sophomore Raylie Varner. Wichita Central Christian senior Bella Cunningham, the state champion two years ago, finished third with a 610.
 

Geesling also helped Buhler finish second in the team competition. While the Crusaders couldn’t match champion Ottawa’s output in the four-game Baker set after entering that segment down just eight pins behind, they were still able to hold off 2025 champion Andale for the runner-up spot.
 
Competing alongside fellow seniors Aubrey Ewing, who finished 11^th, and Baylee Krase, along with underclassmen Keelee Bryant, Macy Miller and 13^th-place finisher Cora Nuttman, Geesling entered her third and final state tournament with a general yet specific plan.
 
“It was my last time doing this and I wanted to go out with a bang,” Geesling said. “And in fact, I did.”
 
Geesling won the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV individual title in mid-February, then helped the Crusaders sweep girls and boys team titles at their home regional on Feb. 25. Geesling took third individually at that meet, with Ewing winning it and Miller taking second.
 
On Friday, Geesling became Buhler’s second individual girls state champion, joining Kirsten Allen, who won the 5-1A title in 2013.
 

“I’ve kind of seen it coming the last few weeks,” Wilson said. “She bowled really good in the regional, and it was a tough region.
 
“They put a really hard shot down. Our scores were really low (Geesling shot 443) and people were saying, ‘Wow, Skip, what happened?’ We didn’t have a house shot, but she bowled pretty good there and she bowled good at the league meet. I’ve been seeing it with her.”
 
Geesling’s 167 average entering state was second on the Crusaders to Miller’s 168. But instead of focusing on numbers, Geesling’s strategy for her last high school tournament was to immerse herself in the environment.
 
“A lot of it has to do with your team and who you surround yourself with,” Geesling said. “The girl I was a lane partner with is one of my best friends. The energy that we had for this … we were all ready for this, we were ready to be here and we just wanted to push ourselves.”
 

Geesling’s opening-game 217 put her in the hunt immediately, tied for second with Ottawa senior Kathy Gillett and nine pins behind Cunningham, an individual qualifier who bowled at the center’s opposite end. While Cunningham followed with a 201, Geesling charged to the front with the 224 second game which, unknown to her, gave her a 14-pin lead.
 
“I don’t look at my score when I bowl, which is a big thing for me,” Geesling said. “But that was the game I told myself, ‘Shoot a 230.’ I shot a 224 and it was all in the mood. You’ve just got to keep yourself up and keep yourself moving. I was doing my celebrations and pushing myself.”
 
Meanwhile, Varner, who finished fourth at the Clearwater regional to earn her first state berth, joined the title chase with a 226 second game. Riding the energy of Circle’s boys team and others who were there to support her, Varner moved from third to second with a closing 213 for her 617 series.
 
“I didn’t expect to be on point today,” Varner said. “I shot a 200 in practice yesterday, but my second game when I got that third strike I knew I was going good.
 
“(The supporters) helped a lot. It kept my mind off the fact that this was state and just to have fun.”
 
While Geesling closed with her lowest game of the series, she did enough to make sure her first individual state medal was gold. After finishing 25^th a year ago and 36^th as part of Buhler’s championship team in 2024, Geesling won with a career-best series.
 

She just didn’t know it until it was announced.
 
“Individually, I tried to keep an open mind,” Geesling said. “I couldn’t let myself get in my head because that’s where you always go wrong – whenever you overthink it. I did this for fun and that pushed me.
 
“I do little dances and celebrations for things. The celebrations always keep me happy and moving and motivated.”
 
And winning.
 
CLASS 4-1A GIRLS INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS
 
1. Cheyann Geesling, Buhler, 629; 2. Raylie Varner, Circle, 617; 3. Bella Cunningham, Wichita Central Christian, 610; 4. Kathy Gillett, Ottawa, 605; 5. Lovie Cosby, Chanute, 570; 6. Calee Walters, Andale, 555; 7. Olivia Blevins, Mulvane, 554; 8. Abigail Huffman, Ottawa, 549; 9. Kirah Taskinen, Smoky Valley, 515; 10. Emma Pedersen, Wichita Central Christian, 514; 11. Aubrey Ewing, Buhler, 508; 12. Zoe Turner, Chanute, 505; 13. Cora Nuttman, Buhler, 501; 14. Madison Busby, El Dorado, 501; 15. Sara Mines, Wichita Collegiate, 490; 16. Alison Huffman, Ottawa, 489; 17. Corin Walters, Andale, 488; 18. Jenna Henkensiefken, Hayden, 486; 19. Katy Flores, Circle, 484; 20. Caroline Kuglich, Wichita Collegiate, 484.