Beismann wins high-average award

A few weeks into the season at Kenmore Lanes’ Saturday-morning “Junior A” bowling league, Kenmore resident and Inglemoor High sophomore Katie Beismann had a feeling that this might be a special year.

“At the beginning of the season, I was feeling it through my practice,” said Beismann, 16. “I’ve been averaging 200 in practice and thought in league I could average over 200, as well.”

What started out promising turned into a season for the ages as Beismann won the Greater Seattle Youth Bowler’s Association High Average award by averaging 208 for the 36-game, 12-week season that started in January and ran through March, which was tops among the hundreds of girls competing in youth leagues in the greater Seattle area.

“I got new equipment, and that’s really helped me,” she said. “I’ve been practicing almost every day.”

Beismann has been bowling at Kenmore Lanes for the past 10 years and credits her success to hard work and experience in bowling local events to sharpen her game.

“I bowl the Junior Bowler’s Tour and local tournaments around here,” she said. “I’ve been doing pretty well, I’m sticking up there, taking top 20 each time.”

Beismann, who had a high game of 258 and also nailed a three-game series of 704, led the Inglemoor High girls bowling team to its first state appearance in school history, where the Vikings finished seventh.

“I hope to become pro, eventually,” she said on her future bowling goals. “But for this year, I hope to just bowl well at state next week for the Pepsi (Tournament), and hopefully make it to nationals for that.”

Beismann wanted to thank her mom, Cindy, for always being there for both financial and emotional support through the rigors of competitive bowling.

“Without her, I wouldn’t be able to get to any of my tournaments,” added Beismann with a laugh.