Buffs’ bowlers look to rebuild

Story by Garden City High School Sports Information

While she may be new to the head coaching position for the Garden City Buffaloes’ boys’ and girls’ bowling teams, Bethany Howard isn’t new to the program.

For many years she was the assistant coach to Kip Nichols, who resigned at the end of the 2024-2025 season after serving in that position from the outset of the program 17 years prior.

Howard will have plenty of slots to fill on both boys’ and girls’ varsity roster, but she will have solid performers at the top of the teams.

Tryouts for the teams began on Dec. 1 and concluded by the end of the week, Howard said.

The Buffaloes’ two teams will open their seasons at the Wichita-Bishop Carroll Baker Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Bowlero-North Rock in Wichita. The girls will begin competition at 9:30 a.m. with the boys to follow at 12:30 p.m.

The Baker format calls for teams to be paired where no single bowler rolls more than one consecutive frame. The tournament has pool competition early before taking the top 8 teams into match play. The field is usually around 30 to 35 teams making it one of the biggest tournaments in Kansas.

During the 12-game qualifying for the Buffs’ varsity roster positions, Bridges led the way on the boys’ side with a 194 average and Nichols was second at 176. Also making the top six for the season opener on Jan. 10 were senior Chance Orozco, junior Jayden Smith, senior Jordan Mier and sophomore Kyler Farmer.

Nichols, who placed 13th at the Class 6A state tournament for the sixth-place Buffs, will be the top returner along with junior Bridges, who placed 31st at the state meet in 2025.

Nichols rolled games of 255-181-212 for his 648 medal-winning performance as he was the top bowler for the Buffs, who graduated five seniors. Graduated were KJ Burns, three-time state medalist, along with Athen Villarreal, Karsten Nichols, Bo Roth and Ethan McMillan.

Bridges, the younger brother of former GCHS standout Holly, had state tournament scores of 210-217-179. Senior Jordan Mier is also back with some varsity experience.

“I think the kids have so much potential and we’ve been practicing a lot on spare shooting and making adjustments to lane conditions,” Howard said. “They’ve come a long way and I can’t wait to see what they do.

“We’ve got a little experience on the boys’ side, so it will be important for the other newcomers

to make an immediate contribution,” Howard said. “We’re going to spend a lot of time on fundamentals, spare-shooting, adjusting to lane condition changes. These are areas that will help us compete.”

Chloe Carr, who averaged 167.2 during her junior campaign, was an all-Western Athletic Conference first team selection (3rd overall). She placed 48th in the 6A state tournament with scores of 158-193-148—499.

Carr missed her sophomore campaign with a leg injury, but during her freshman season placed 19th at the state tournament.

Carr was the top qualifier for the Lady Buffs with a 163 average while Morgan Schwaderer, a returner who missed the last portion of the 2025 schedule due to an injury, was the second highest qualifier. Other qualifiers for the opening tournament were Savannah Mastin, a freshman, and sophomores Sophie Cornish, Emma McDowell and Arreola Vanneman.

“Chloe will be one of our team leaders,” Howard said. “She’s got a lof of experience and we are looking for great things from her.”

The biggest graduation loss for the Lady Buffs was Kyleigh Whitehurst, a multi-state medalist who was runner-up in the 2025 WAC Player of the Year race.

Schwaderer, who despite missing the last portion of the 2025 season, still made first team all-WAC before she sustained a knee injury and underwent surgery. Also returning will be McDowell.

“A lot of the kids will be new to the program,” Howard said of the expected dozen boys and seven girls who had signed up for the teams prior to tryouts. “We will lean on the more experienced bowlers to help with the newcomers.”

Howard said she plans to build the program by contacting elementary and middle schools and physical education teachers to promote the sport.

“Our two local proprietors (Hard Rock Lanes and Garden Bowl) have said youth numbers are a little lower than in the past, so we have to find a way to build those back up,” Howard said. “The program has a rich history, and we want to build that back to know we can be competitive again.”

The boys’ team has won the WAC six consecutive years while the girls finished runner-up to powerhouse Great Bend last season.

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2026 GCHS Bowling Schedule

Jan. 10–at Wichita (Bowlero-North Rock); Jan. 13—Home (Garden Bowl) vs. Liberal; Jan. 15-Home (Hard Rock Lanes) vs. Hays; Jan. 19—at Great Bend; Jan. 27—Home (Garden Bowl) vs. Dodge City; Jan. 30-31—at Wichita North Inv. (Bowlero-North Rock, Wichita); Feb. 5—at Liberal; Feb. 10—Home (Hard Rock Lanes) vs. Great Bend; Feb. 12—at Hays; Feb. 15—vs. Dodge City (at Sublette); Feb. 21—Class 6A Regionals, Site TBD; March 4—Class 6A State at Wichita (Bowlero-North Rock).