3 advance at state tourney

ORLANDO — Broward County sent four bowlers to the 2012 FHSAA Bowling Finals, and three of them did a lot more than just show up for the first day of the tournament.

Krystina Nealon of Coral Glades, Kristin Zimmermanof St. Thomas Aquinas and Pablo Cerda of Coral Springs Charter School qualified for the individual championship bracket.

Nealon scored 842 in four games on Wednesday to qualify in seventh place out of 207 girls in the tournament at Boardwalk Bowl. Zimmerman ( 812) qualified No. 14 in the girls’ competition. Cerda ( 874) earned the No. 14 spot out of 183 boys entered in the tournament. Sixteen individuals qualify for each finals bracket.

Nealon, a sophomore, set a Broward County high school record by averaging 213.4 during the regular season and took individual honors with 664 for three games in the District 14 tournament in Boca Raton. She averaged 210.5 on Wednesday.

“My parents got me started bumper bowling when I was five,” Nealon said. “Then I got my own bowling ball. Then I gotmy own shoes. Now I like to bowl in a lot of tournaments. I like to feel the pressure.”

Cerda won boys’ individual honors in the District 14 tournament and averaged 218.5 in the four qualifying games onWednesday.

Coral Springs Charter coach Nelson Martin said, “I am very proud of Pablo. He has an even temperament and he doesn’t kick things. He’s a great kid.”

The finals in both team and individual competition will be held today.

— Dave Heeren