Switching Lanes

Three of the state's best bowlers attend different high schools, but they're good friends on and off the lanes. Zach Prather of Heights, Hunter Bennett of Southeast and Cooper Buchholz of Northwest star in the bowling alleys of Wichita. Oddly enough, the bowling alley is not where the kinship between the three began. Outdoors on a baseball field is where they first competed together. The three year-round bowlers all started at a young age, and each has 12 or more years of experience under their belt. They quit taking the gutters out of play with bumpers long ago, mowing down pins in legitimate fashion. All three remember their first perfect score of 300. Friendship doesn't extinguish their competitive fire when it comes to high school competition. Despite the camaraderie among them, Bennett, Buchholz and Prather have confident state tournament predictions for their respective teams. "We can bowl with any team in Wichita," says Bennett, who placed 19th at state last season. "We're winning state." "We have a very strong team," says Buchholz, who rolled a 735 series at Class 6A state last March to place fourth individually. "I feel we are definitely capable of winning state again." Northwest, which also won the City League last season, took the 6A team state title by 37 pins over Maize. And while Heights, second in the City Leage last season, is less experienced than a year ago when they placed third at 6A state, Prather is positive the Falcons have the potential to end the season well. The three are considering pursuing the sport after high school within the local prestigious college bowling tradition. Buchholz, a senior, hopes to continue his career at either Wichita State or Newman University; Prather, a junior, is leaning toward to Newman but plans on keeping his options open; and Bennett hopes to either bowl or play baseball in college. Prather and Bennett have continued in the game which initially brought them together - baseball - playing in high school and summer leagues. During in-season bowling tournaments, the amity between them is not lost. They admit that they joke and compliment one another - but they still mean business when their competitive nature kicks into high gear. Buchholz, Bennett says, sometimes has to be brought back down to earth. "Zach and I always have a fun time bowling matches with each other," says Bennett. "Cooper, on the other hand, is strictly business." "We are all competitive toward each other," says Buchholz, but adds, "I hate losing to both of them." With hopes of helping their teams reach their full potential by state tournament weeked on March 6-7, they'll remain a chattery bunch full of school pride and love for the game. All in all, the three exude confidence and talent, and their friendship and will to compete will not end any time soon. State Bowling Notes - Defending Class 6A boys team champ Wichita Northwest also returns three bowlers who players in the top 10 individually - seniors Shelby Nero, Cooper Buchholz and Jordan Walker. - The Maize boys, runner-up last season, returns three of four medalists - Troy Rosiere, Nathan Brooks and Anthony Cruz. - The top five placers at 6A state last season were from the Wichita area - Northwest, followed by Maize, Heights, Derby and Southeast. - Defending Class 6A girls team champ Wichita North returns the defending individual state champion, Ally Johnson, and the defending City League champ, Krystin Lowe. State medalist Nesa Hubbard also returns. - The Heights girls, defending state runner-up, return state medalists Valerie Connelly and Sarah Anderson.