By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Great Bend's Paige Wagner has been bowling since the age of three. Most of that time, Wagner has utilized Brunswick balls and equipment. She recently made that partnership official by announcing Monday she has joined the Brunswick Pro Staff to represent one of the premiere bowling companies at tournaments.
"We've actually been talking to the guy a little bit and he's also reached out to us," Wagner said. "We've been working with him to get it finalized. Just over this past week or so, we finally got to the point where we were signing contracts and finally made it official. It's something we've been working on for a couple of years."
Wagner capped her junior season at Great Bend High School with a 289-game and a 209 season average, both school records that stand today. She topped that by signing with Wichita State University and winning the Intercollegiate Singles Championships national title in Las Vegas in April. The new partnership is just another step toward the ultimate goal: bowling professionally.
"That is definitely another step to get closer to that part," said Wagner. "That's going to help a lot with getting to that point."
Wagner was one of 24 individual bowlers to qualify for this year's national championships. After bowling six games, she entered bracket competition as the No. 8 seed. She overcame a late foul in one match and a 7-10 split in the eighth frame of the championship match to claim the title.