DERBY, Kan. (KSNW) -- Derby boys bowling brought home the State Bowling Tournament team title for the second straight season on Friday. The win makes the Panthers the first back-to-back 6A champions since 2013. "It was a lot more stressful this time but then it got exciting as we went on through the tournament," said Derby bowling head coach Brent Cunningham. "We  had a feeling that we had a good chance to repeat as champions and we just fed off that energy and completed the goal." Derby had not problem knocking down the competition, outscoring second place by an impressive 253 pins. "It's nice riding off into the sunset with the win. I mean, it would have been tougher to overcome if we came out with a loss but I'm glad we came out on top," said Derby senior Evan Clark, who finished third overall in the individual competition. "Throughout the junior year and earlier this year we've just been getting stronger and stronger together. Having that team chemistry and being really close personally with these guys, it's just another day in the office is what it feels like," added senior bowler Tyler Huffman. The team's championship experience from 2024 came in clutch. Five of the six team members were returning from last year's roster, with four of them being seniors. "There had been talks about our team at derby being the best men's team in Kansas in recent years, so that's really exciting to think about maybe seeing my name on that," said Tai Gibbon, Derby senior bowler. "And it was also emotional being my last shot and the team's last shot." The team worked well together and and as individuals. Senior Dawson Baumgartner took home the individual gold with a score of 741. "It was really special. I really enjoyed experience and I'm glad I came out on top with everyone else too," said Baumgartner. "We had a little saying last year that we carried onto this year. It's, we bowl for each other not ourselves. And so they took on that and they just rolled with that. It's really fun," said Coach Cunningham. Now the players are enjoying the memories made after leaving their final mark in Derby's record books. The players have bowled together since they were young. Clark and Baumgartner look forward to playing together again next season at Kansas Wesleyan. "I'm going to really miss this group of seniors. I mean, for the four years I had and to see them go from where they began and to where they ended is incredible. But I'm really excited about our class that was our J.V. team. I have four kids on my JV team that's going to be placed in that can bowl for 95% of these teams around here. And they're waiting their turn," said Cunningham. With back-to-back titles down, the Panthers are already preparing to strike once again. If you would like to nominate a person, team, or sporting event for Competitive Drive, fill out KSN Sport's online contact form. ...read more read less