It’s clear that if high school girls and boys bowling gets much more popular, the bowling alleys are going to run out of room.

The May City lanes were filled almost to the brim Saturday afternoon, as 22 teams from 11 Eastern Iowa high schools took up all but 10 of the 32 alleys.

But the crowd watching the action took up every bit of space left in the place, standing five and six deep for the Class 1A and Class 2A regional and substate tournaments.

Trying to figure out who’s ahead during the competition is impossible, except for the well-initiated who keep their own score pads.

By late Saturday afternoon, though, the Linn-Mar boys team and the Jefferson girls had pulled off Class 2A upsets and advanced to the state tourney in Des Moines next weekend.

Individually, there were surprises, too. Jefferson’s Jenna Alff took top honors among the Class 2A girls and Dreyson Robe of Linn-Mar claimed the boys title.

The Jefferson boys finished third in the five-team field, and the Linn-Mar girls also took third.

In both divisions, high-powered teams from Muscatine settled for second and squads from Iowa City High and Iowa West brought up the rear.

In the smaller school Class 1A division, teams and individuals from North Scott swept all the titles among six schools.

The Xavier girls came in second, and the boys were fourth. Marion’s girls finished fourth and the boys fifth.

May City owner Tom Trcka, who also coaches the Xavier girls team led by his daughter Tara, said the capacity of his building is around 400.

“Let’s just say it was filled to capacity,” he said.

There were parents and grandparents, classmates holding up signs, boyfriends and girlfriends.

Veteran Jefferson Coach Virg Cerveny estimated there were at least 100 or so fans of his teams alone.

“We travel well,” he said. “You’ll see the same folks at all of our meets.”

His lady bowlers did not disappoint, edging out the favored Muskies by a mere 27 pins.

“The girls bowled very well,“ Cerveny said. “I think we might be a little dangerous at state."

Senior Jenna Alff surprised even herself by taking top individual honors with a 474 two-game series. She bowled her first 400 series ever in a meet Tuesday.

And Cerveny said team captain Nicole Werling got her team off on the right foot as lead-off bowler with games of 211 and 220.

“On this team,” said Cerveny, “it seems like if someone is down, another girl picks the team up. Everybody contributes.”

Alff, Werling and Allie Trcka qualified for the individual championship competition.

For the Linn-Mar boys, it marked the first-ever trip to the state tournament.

And Coach Andy Diercks said the 3224 team total is by far the highest ever recorded by a Lions team.

“It’s great to know all of our hard work paid off,” said team captain Corey Prokup.

Prokop was in charge of practices all week as Diercks was in his home town of Storm Lake attending to his ailing father Mike, who died Friday. The team wore black ribbons in his honor.

“I think that made us want this more,” said sophomore Dreyson Robe, whose 506 series took top honors among the boys.

It was a frustrating regional tournament for Xavier’s Tara Trcka, who Cerveny said is perhaps the best girls bowler in the state. She hurt her right hand earlier in the week and was off her usual form Saturday.

While she sports a 215 average, Trcka dropped to 175 for her first game and managed just a 388 series.

CLASS 2A GIRLS

TEAMS -- 1. Jefferson 2983, 2. Muscatine 2956, 3. Linn-Mar 2727, 4. Iowa City High 2453, 5. Iowa City West 2364.

Individual champion – Jenna Alff (Jefferson) 474.

JEFFERSON (2983): Nicole Werling 220-431, Jenna Alff 248-474, Allie Trcka 203-404, Nicole Petersen 200-357, Whitnie Jones 187-359.

First round – 2025. Baker round – 958.

LINN-MAR (2727): Amy Pickering 178-324, McKenzie Routhe 207-380, Abbey Sternsen 187-356, Valerie Loudenback 204-389, Stacey Schwarzenstein 214-383.

First round – 1832. Baker round – 895.

CLASS 2A BOYS

TEAMS -- 1. Linn-Mar 3224, 2. Muscatine 3102, 3. Jefferson 2937, 4. Iowa City West 2874, 5. Iowa City High 2860.

Individual champion – Dreyson Robe (Linn-Mar) 506.

LINN-MAR (3224): Justin Wyant 240-442, Matt Wheaton 204-396, Tristin Stevens 236-409, Dreyson Robe 244-506, Corey Prokup 210-374.

First round – 2127. Baker round – 1097.

JEFFERSON (2937): Michael Kilts 228-430, Will James 204-342, Austin Kluth 212-404, James Bruce 253-423, Daniel Healy 234-411.

First round – 2010. Baker round – 927.

CLASS 1A GIRLS

TEAMS -- 1. North Scott 2639, 2. Xavier 2364, 3. Camanche 2290, 4. Marion 2220, 5. Waterloo Columbus 2102, 6. DeWitt Central 2099.

Individual champion – Katelyn Tharp (North Scott) 410.

XAVIER (2364): Erica Fry 142-268, Abbey Konzen 159-294, Tyler Weger 127-235, Aileen Conway 172-337, Tara Trcka 213-388.

First round – 1522. Baker round – 842.

MARION (2220): Emily Clapp 134-267, Joiah Bandfield 153-293, Juliah Bandfield 176-335, Steph Loesel 150-278, Taylor Lamm 179-302.

First round – 1475. Baker round – 745.

CLASS 1A BOYS

TEAMS -- 1. North Scott 3008, 2. Camanche 2960, 3. DeWitt Central 2957, 4. Xavier 2790, 5. Marion 2698, 6. Waterloo Columbus 2529.

Individual champion – Tim Dau (North Scott) 463.

XAVIER (2790): Mitchell Huss 200-374, Ryan DeWit 179-346, Logan Buschette 182-353, Alex Gibney 197-370, Kyle Elliott 248-461.

First round – 1904. Baker round – 886.

MARION (2698): Steve Ottaway 204-341, Russell Clayton 183-359, Peter Rethwisch 188-336, Kyle Wilson 171-312, Zach Burhite 225-407.

First round – 1755. Baker round – 943.