A 13-2 regular-season record. A second-place finish in the league standings. A second-place finish at the league tournament. A berth to districts with a chance to qualify for state.

Impressive marks — for most teams.

But for a defending state champion squad a year removed from landing its school’s first state title since 1976, second place suddenly feels lukewarm.

Such is the case for the Bremerton girls bowling team.

The Lady Knights finished a distant second to rival Olympic at the Olympic League bowling championships Tuesday, failing to rebound from a dismal start that left them trailing by more than 150 pins after one game.

“Today we started out flatter than we have ever started,” coach Dean Wagner said.

Bremerton didn’t pick up a strike until the sixth frame of the first regular game. Ariel Wagg rolled a 177 in the game, but no other Lady Knight eclipsed 150. Olympic, meanwhile, posted 150-plus scores of 204, 199, 182 and 154 to build a pin-fall lead of 882-705.

The Lady Knights rebounded to roll a 793 in the second regular game, but the damage had already been done. The third and final regular game as well as the four Bakers were merely a formality.

In the end, Olympic knocked down 3,269 total pins to Bremerton’s 2,982. Sequim (2,864) and Klahowya (2,771) finished third and fourth, respectively, to also qualify for districts.

“Olympic has a lot to be proud of today, they earned it,” Wagner said. “The competition between us has always been good.”

But tomorrow’s district tournament at Bowlero Lanes in Tacoma gives the Lady Knights another crack at the Trojans, who won the Olympic League regular-season title with a 14-1 record and beat Bremerton twice in three tries.

Bremerton will need to finish third or better at districts, which begin at 9:20 a.m., to qualify for state.

And while this year’s Lady Knights haven’t won every single match like the championship team of 2007-08, Wagner said the rollers have showed both resiliency and camaraderie — traits that should serve them well at districts and, potentially, beyond.

“They didn’t hang their heads today, they supported each other and we ended on a good note,” Wagner said. “Last year was a golden season, we ran with it and we were on.

“This year, I feel good that we’ve come together as a team. If you’re winning every game, that’s too easy. I’m not worried about it because we’re together as a team.”

Wagg rolled a series of 512, fifth amongst all bowlers, and Misty Braddock rolled a 476, good for ninth. Olympic’s Alaina Howell led all bowlers with a 552 series, averaging 184 per game.

Team standings

1. Olympic 3,269; 2. Bremerton 2,982; 3. Sequim 2,864; 4. Klahowya 2,771; 5. Peninsula 2,461; 6. North Mason 2,076

Individual Leaders

1, Alaina Howell, Olympic 199-165-188—552; 2, Emily Sutton, Olympic 204-184-145—53; 3, Lacee Ness, Olympic 154-199-173—526; 4, Carys Bailey, Klahowya 179-192-148—519; 5, Ariel Wagg, Bremerton 177-169-166—512; 6, Liza Ambrose, Olympic 182-171-146—499; 7, Samantha Whiteside, Sequim 151-163-175—489; 8, Johanna Ewing, Sequim 168-141-177—486; 9, Misty Braddock, Bremerton 143-178-155—476; 10, Megan Shultz, Klahowya 158-155-156—469.