A year ago, Hilton Head Prep's new bowling team was the runner-up to SCISA state champion Heathwood Hall. A year later, the Dolphins have overtaken the Highlanders. Hilton Head Prep defeated Heathwood Hall, 495-455, on Thursday at Royal Z Lanes in Columbia to win the SCISA boys state bowling championship. The team consisted of seniors John Sheehan, Greg Warren, Brayden Mitchell, Angelo Carrabba, and anchor James Leonard.

The Dolphins, 2-2 coming into the state meet, were seeded first after winning the qualifying round. There were 11 teams in the boys division and they bowled three games before the field was cut to the top four teams, which bowled another three games.

According to head coach Bryan VanGronigen, the Dolphins had increased their practice schedule after hitting a rough patch during the season. The team was focused on finding their shots on heavy oil conditions and making corner spares. "In the end, we were able to string some strikes together and convert some key spares, which lessened our number of open frames and gave us a comfortable margin of victory," VanGronigen said.

Even so, the Dolphins were down five pins heading into the final game of the championship round. But Carrabba and Leonard had three critical strikes in the ninth and 10th frames to lock up the win.

"I'm so very, very proud of the boys and all their hard work these past two years," VanGronigen said. "They created the program with me, and what a tremendous way to cap their efforts and senior year."

Prep's co-ed team, consisting of Carrabba, Jack Dextraze, Kiara Parker, Sam Warren and Maggie Sulek, won their final two matches of the season in their division on Thursday, as well.