BY JIM MISUNAS
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Great Bend Panther 5A state runner-up Paige Wagner elected to delay her 2022 high school bowling season.
Wagner continues to improve with scores of 188, 206, 186, 174, 212 and 228 to place 39th Thursday for a 1,194 series total (199 average) at the Team USA Trials and U.S. National Amateur Bowling Championships. Her four-day total of 4,365 (182 average) ranks 93rd overall. She's improved each day.
Wednesday, Wagner progresses with a 1,117 score (186 average). Her three-day total of 3,171 (176 average) ranks 110th. Wagner fired games of 193, 213, 190, 186, 130 and 205.
Tuesday, Wagner shot a 1,064 total (177 average) for a two-day score of 2,054 (171 average) to finish 110th after two rounds. She improved 12 pins per game with scores of 148, 204, 203, 167, 190 and 152.
Monday, Wagner finished with a 990 series (165 average) to place 113th. Wagner recorded games of 142, 134, 144, 167, 198 and 205, but improved her game scores through six games.
Wagner is the 2021 PBA Junior Regional champion who has qualified for the PBA Junior Nationals at Euless, Texas in January. She placed in the top six of the 2021 Junior 18-and-under tournament.
Wagner broke school records at the 2021 5A state meet with high game (289), high series (725) and high average (209). She has placed runner-up, eighth and 15th at the 5A state meet. The Panthers have finished second, sixth and seventh the past three years at the state tournament.
Wagner is the daughter of Cheri-Shelton Wagner and Tim Wagner and the granddaughter of Rhonda Beakey Shelton and Vern and Diana Wagner.
Also qualifying from Kansas are Wichita's Destiny Truly (63rd, 4,506, 188 average) and Garden City's Holly Bridges (76th, 4,443, 185 average). Qualifying rounds continue through Friday with the top finishers qualifying for the U.S. Amateur stepladder finals. Competing for Junior USA Team and the Team USA bowling team are 175 entrants.
