Lakeland's Kaydence Myers finishes 37th in state bowling. Here's how

ORLANDO — Lakeland sophomore bowler Kaydence Myers wanted to zero in on her mark heading into the 2026 FHSAA State Bowling Championships, especially after what happened last year.

In 2025, Myers just missed the cut in districts to go to state. But this year she officially clinched her bid thanks to placing second in districts , registering a 560 series, which is a 186 average. Myers became the second Lakeland girl bowler to advance to state in the last three years. And in state, she racked up 37th out of 231 girls from around the state of Florida Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at the Boardwalk Bowl and Entertainment Center in Orlando.

"I definitely finished much better than how I started. I went up by 50 pins the last two games, and I went up 40 places," Myers said.

Averaging a 180 in four games, Myers bowled a 157, 160, 207 and then a 193, which is a 717 total. And as evidenced, she missed her spares in the first two games but was able to capitalize on her marks the last two games.

The trend that happened to her that led to her doing better this year was her transition from a 12-pound ball to 14. Before, her 12-pound ball was going straight through the pins and not knocking as many down. At 14 pounds she is able to hit the pins harder because it carries more momentum and kinetic energy, deflecting less upon impact. As a result, her average upped from 160 in 2025 to 185 this year.

And her average increased in a year when she added a Thursday bowling league to her schedule while practicing for the Lakeland cheer team every day during the week.

"I do two cheer teams. It's definitely exhausting and then having to fit bowling into my spare time (is definitely a challenge)," Myers said.

"She will take what she learned today, and she will come back next year and do better," Lakeland bowling coach Thomas Kreamer said. "She's good. She did a lot better. She's more consistent on her approach with her walking and not stuttering and stopping with her steps. She's gotten more consistent. She (just) has to get more consistent and continue to carry the team like she's been doing all year. She's our No. 1 bowler. No. 1 bowler in Polk County. She's just going to continue to get better every day with her coming to the pro shop and coming to the bowling alley with me. ... She's going to continue to get better and up her scores even more."

For next year, Myers will return with Elizabeth Woodsby, who is the team's second-best bowler. And for the boys' team, all of the Dreadnaughts will be returning.