Showing little nerves on the big stage, SHS freshman Madison McKeown earned a top-20 spot at the state 1A/2A tournament in Tacoma on Feb. 1.

McKeown bowled an 899-pin, six-game series to tie Jacklynn Stroup of Klahowya for 20th at the 1A/2A finals at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place last week.

Her effort also tied McKeown for fourth place among Olympic League bowlers.

McKeown said she was nervous at first at the state tourney, but “once I got bowling the nerves kind of went away.”

McKeon’s was Sequim’s best individual performance at the state tourney; Samantha Whiteside held the previous best finish of 31st place following the 2009-2010 season.

“She has the potential to be the best bowler I ever had,” Sequim coach Randy Perry said “I can see her averaging 160-plus next year.”

McKeown bowled games of 140, 142, 171 and 108 at the state tourney before a career-best 187-pin fifth game, and finished with 151 in her final game.

A former Port Angeles resident, McKeown said she had some experience heading into her first high school season and that she enjoyed her rookie year.

“The girls, we all got along,” she said. “We weren’t very competitive with each; we just other cheered each other on.”

Brooklyn Boudreau of Mark Morris won the 1A/2A title with a 1,270 series, with Mackenzie Theophilus of Black Hills in second (1,172). Madison Bonk of Olympic was the league’s top bowler, placing eighth (1,016).