Iowa City High’s Kendra Schwarting shines in her final state bowling tournament

Kendra Schwarting could have been intimidated. No one would have blamed her.

Des Moines Lincoln’s Vicky Andrews, her opponent in Tuesday’s opening round of bracket play at the Class 3A state bowling tournament in Waterloo, was fresh off setting a state tournament record for a three-game series in pre-bracket qualifying.

Andrews also had the highest per game average in Iowa high school girls’ bowling this season. Oh, and she was the defending 3A state champion.

None of that fazed Schwarting. In fact, the challenge brought out the best in the Iowa City High senior.

“It didn't (intimidate me), I mean, you just kind of do what you do,” Schwarting said. “I was excited and nervous because Vicky's a great bowler. She set a record on the first three games in tournament history (793), which was really cool.

“But I knew I just had to focus on my game and not pay attention to how she was doing … just make sure I stayed on my routine.”

Under the bright lights, Schwarting shined. She flirted with perfection, throwing her second-highest game of the season — a 289, besting Andrews’ 266.

“I had the front 10 (strikes) and then went nine-spare,” Schwarting said. “It was kind of surreal because I knew all that stuff going in, and I was like, ‘am I really going to beat this girl?’

“But it felt great to be able to pull through.”

Schwarting tossed a 300 game at May City Bowl on Dec. 1 — the only girl in Iowa high school bowling to do so this season.

In the semifinals, Schwarting faced Ottumwa’s Olivia Moughler.

“My coach Dan (Christensen) helped a lot,” Schwarting said. “Between each frame he kept saying to me ‘square feet and slow feet.’ Because when I get nervous and in those high-pressure situations, I tend to go fast and not take my time.

“He knows that, so he would just say it to remind me. It kept me in the right headspace.”

Schwarting again put together 10 stellar frames, outscoring Moughler, 245-190.

The championship match against Des Moines East’s Rileigh Schillinger didn’t go quite as smoothly for Schwarting.

“We were pretty neck-and-neck for the first few rounds,” Schwarting said. “I think it was the fourth or fifth frame I threw my first shot and got a nine. Then when I was throwing my spare, I fouled. It kind of threw me off a little bit.”

Schillinger took home the 3A state title with a 208-186 win.

“I'm still pretty happy with the last game,” Schwarting said. “Even though it wasn't my best game, I'm still happy with it. Rileigh totally deserved it. She bowled great the whole day, too.”

Schwarting’s high school bowling career ends with a state runner-up, multiple all-conference, all-district and all-state selections — she was also named “Athlete of the Year” for girls’ bowling in the Mississippi Valley Conference this season.

“I'd say it was pretty successful run with the goals I set when I came in as a freshman,” Schwarting said. “I just hope it shows that it's possible to do these things, like to go from averaging 170 as a freshman to averaging 212. I hope it shows how much growth there can be and what can happen.”