TACOMA — She refers to them as the “community’s team.”
But when South Kitsap girls bowling coach Marcy Morgon is talking about her Class 4A West Central District championship squad, she is referring to more than geography.
The Wolves, who scored 3,079 points to outlast second-place Curtis by 56 points Saturday at Pacific Lanes, have competitors from multiple high schools and junior highs. And Morgan teaches at Orchard Heights Elementary.
There is more to the group than geographic diversity, though. Take junior Sarah Layton, who was South’s top placer and finished fifth in 4A with an average score of 187. The 17-year-old Discovery Alternative High School student has a 1-year-old daughter.
In 2013, Layton said she competed at districts three days after giving birth. She described the experience as “hard.” This year, Layton said it was more relaxing as her daughter and other family members watched.
“She’s walking, talking, eating,” said Layton, adding that her family watches her daughter while she is in school and practices four times per week. “It’s a lot easier.
“I have a very good support system.”
Layton, who began bowling with her family about 10 years ago, said the experience of having a daughter has inspired her to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. She is taking the professional medical careers class at West Sound Technical. According to the class website, students “learn the fundamentals of care for a stable adult patient, basic technical skills and medical terminology.”
Because the Wolves were among the top four teams at districts, Layton will be joined during Friday and Saturday’s state meet at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place by seniors Sydney Jones and Emily Novogradac, who is a Running Start student at Olympic College, junior Savannah Welch, sophomore Libby Morey and freshmen Mae Jacobsen and Sarah Stolle. Jacobsen attends John Sedgwick, while Stolle is at Marcus Whitman.
“Just them all being able to keep very consistent scores throughout,” said Morgon, when asked about the key to the team’s success. “When they’re all on nobody can beat them.”
Layton shared similar sentiments.
“We’re a pretty good team,” she said. “We’ve been confident all year. I think we can make it onto state and take the title.”
Team scores-1, South Kitsap 3,079; 2, Curtis 3,028; 3, Cascade 2,924; 4, Puyallup 2,866; 5, Spanaway Lake 2,861; 6, Emerald Ridge 2,853; 7, Yelm 2,632; 8, Graham-Kapowsin 2,540.
Top 10 individuals (average score)-1, Kayla Zabel (Cascade) 226; 2, Carolina Snowden (SL) 222; 3, Morgan Stout (CK) 201; 4, Elisa Couch (ER) 198; 5, Sarah Layton (SK) 187; 6, Alexia Rawls (Curtis) 186; 7, Christine Ginther (Puyallup) 185; 8, Sheri Hill (Curtis) 175; 9, McKenzi Lewis (ER) 175; 10, Katie Elliott (Cascade) 174.
