By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands senior Andy Campbell became the first Northern Kentucky high school bowler to win a state singles championship on Thursday at Executive Strike and Spare in Louisville.
After posting the highest five-game pin total (1,107) in two qualifying rounds, Campbell was the top-seed in the boys’ stepladder playoffs. He defeated No. 2 seed Jacob Rowan of Louisville Manual, 229-199, in the final match to take the title in the seventh year of the state-sanctioned tournament.
Campbell, who didn’t qualify for last year’s state singles tournament, became the first local bowler to reach the boys’ state final on Thursday and ended his high school career with a championship trophy. He will join the University of Cumberlands men’s bowling team after graduation.
In the girls’ singles state final, Kellie Kidder of Manual edged Kaylee Hitt of Campbell County, 155-153, in another showdown between the top two seeds. Hitt won her semifinal match against Sierra Brandt of Cooper, 193-140, to reach the championship final.
This is the second straight year that a Northern Kentucky bowler has been state runner-up in girls’ singles. Kara Strong of Boone County lost in last year’s final.
The state team tournaments will take place Friday. The local girls’ state qualifiers are Boone County, Cooper, Highlands and Campbell County. The boys’ field includes Covington Catholic, Simon Kenton, Campbell County and Lloyd.
Simon Kenton won the boys’ team title in 2013 and Highlands was runner-up in 2014. Boone County finished second in the 2015 girls’ team tournament.
BOYS’ STATE SINGLES QUALIFYING SCORES
Five-game scores
1 — Andy Campbell (Highlands) 1107. 5 — Jonathan Cummins (Simon Kenton) 1000. 7 — Cameron Bechtol (Campbell County) 936.
Three-game scores
15 — Reiley Ulanday (Cooper) 532. 22 — Steve Elgowsky (Cooper) 467. 24 — Michael Reynolds (CovCath) 462. 25 — Austin Hitt (Campbell County) 456. 26 — Logan Bolton (Beechwood) 454.
GIRLS’ STATE SINGLES QUALIFYING SCORERS
Five-game scores
2 — Kaylee Hitt (Campbell County) 915. 3 — Sierra Brandt (Cooper) 911.
Three-game scores
9 — Mirena Combs (Newport) 523. 12 — Taylor Evans (Boone County) 512. 14 — Kara Strong (Boone County) 506. 29 — Ashley Bruce (Beechwood) 410. 31 — Aleah Staggs (Campbell County) 391. 32 — Abby Bach (Highlands) 368.