Twice would feel just as nice — if not better.
While Seymour High School’s Hannah Kaufman made history in 2016, she plans on adding to her legacy this weekend.
The reigning singles state bowling champion will have her chance to defend her title Saturday morning at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne.
Last weekend in Anderson, the senior bowled a 553 series to place eighth at semistate. The top-12 from each semistate advanced to the state finals.
“I couldn’t have been happier,” Kaufman said of advancing.
“I’m thankful I got to advance. I want to defend my title. If I win again, who can say they’re a two-time state champion in bowling.”
In the regional competition, Kaufman placed seventh with the top-10 moving on. The week prior, she finished sixth at sectional.
While Kaufman has yet to advance to a stepladder round, which features the top-four score vying for individual accolade, she feels confident going into state.
“I think, overall, I’ve been bowling pretty well,” Kaufman said. “I bowled well enough to advance, I just haven’t made it into any of the step-ladders.
“I need to work on being more relaxed. Sometimes I’m nervous, I just don’t show it. I don’t want my opponent to know it. Even during sectional, I was a little uptight.”
Kaufman said she will need to average 190 in the stepladder to repeat as champ at state.
With Kingpins Bowl in Seymour closing this past summer, Kaufman and the Seymour bowlers have spent time practicing in Scottsburg and Columbus.
“I am very glad that Hannah has a chance to be a repeat champion,” Seymour coach Shannon Kelly said. “With Hannah’s leadership the team definitely over-achieved this year considering the limited amount of practice they could get in on their own, and that we started the season with three beginner bowlers.
It has been very tough having to travel for practice when it had always been just five minutes from school. Having to travel to practice also means that you don’t practice every night or every other night like you might have. I am very proud of t
Another state title would mean the world Kaufman.
“Winning two years in a row would just be awesome,” Kaufman said. “Bowling is a tough sport. I think it’s more of a mental game than anything. Once you have a frame or two that doesn’t go as planned, it can really mess with your mind.”
Singles competition will being at 9 a.m. Saturday. The stepladder will be live streamed at bowl.com by Savage Bowling TV.