Metro strong again in bowling

Cedar Rapids high school bowling teams are at a bit of a disadvantage — they have to play each other.

Because of Metro's outstanding bowling talent, most teams spend a lot of time beating up on each other. And this promises to be as competitive and exciting as ever.

The girls' side will be wide open since most teams had some significant graduation losses. But all have a great deal of talent ready to step up and take their place.

Cedar Rapids Washington will look to return to state following its eighth-place finish last season. Keely Pernicka will lead to Warriors, along with Kelly Waters, Lynze Moon and Shania Christensen.

Competition for the Warriors will come from Kennedy, which returns four starters, and Prairie, which features sophomore Rylea Blood, an all-conference performer last season

.Jefferson will be rebuilding after losing four members from a MVC divisional championship team. Rylea Bennett will lead the J-Hawks.

Another team facing a probable rebuilding season will be Xavier. The Saints qualified for state last year, but lost five bowlers, including former state champion Tara Trcka. The Saints will build around Jayla Thompson, Ashley Pudil and Haley Jensen.

Waterloo West looks to be at the top of the MVC, returning five starters from last year's state championship team.

Xavier is coming off a state runner-up finish in Class 1A on the boys' side and returns junior Caleb Miller, the individual state champion last year. Miller rolled games of 213 and 279 to win by 14 pins.

Linn-Mar also enjoyed a great 2012 season, finishing fourth at the state tournament, but graduation took a toll. Seth Tegtmeier returns to help the Lions in their quest for another trip to state.Jefferson may be the team to beat in town with five returning lettermen. Austin Kluth (220 average) returns after earning all-conference and all-Metro honors last election.

Prairie will bring a tough and experienced team to the fight, too. Seniors Josh Kucena and Andrew Gallero lead the way for the Hawks, who also return five letterwinners.

Washington lost four starters from a team that finished third in the state, but all is not lost. Brian Cline and Kyle Kaness return.Aaron Smith will be back to help Cedar Rapids Kennedy try to improve from last year.

The clear cut favorite in the MVC boys' race is Dubuque Hempstead, which returns five starters from last season's fifth-place state tournament team.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Girls

• Cedar Rapids Washington — Warriors returns four starters from last year's state tournament team which finished eighth.
• Cedar Rapids Prairie — Hawks return four starters from 2012, including first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference performer Rylea Blood.
• Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Senior laden team with four returning starters.

Boys

• Linn-Mar — Graduated five from last year's state tourney team, but has four seniors who should provide outstanding leadership.
• Cedar Rapids Jefferson — J-Hawks return five letterman.
• Cedar Rapids Prairie — Experienced and always tough, the Hawks return five lettermen and should be a factor in the MVC.

BOWLERS TO WATCH

Girls

• Rylea Bennett, Cedar Rapids Jefferson — 2012 first team all-MVC.
• Keely Pernicka, Cedar Rapids Washington — One of the top bowlers in MVC, averaged 185 in 2012.
• Katelyn Kelly, Iowa City West — 2012 first-team all MVC.

Boys

• Austin Kluth, Cedar Rapids Jefferson — 2012 first-team all-MVC and all-Metro who averaged 220.
• Seth Tegtmeier, Linn-Mar — Expected to lead a tough Lions team back to state after averaging 202 last year.
• Eric Vidhamali, I.C. West — Second-team all-MVC last season.