When Warren East senior bowler Tyler Phelps approaches a lane, people take notice.

Phelps has made a name for himself after bowling a 300 this season, the first of high school bowling sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Phelps, whose previous high was 280, was the second high school player in Kentucky to bowl a 300.

“I tried not to focus on it,” Phelps said. “I tried to focus on making the same shots I had in the first nine frames. Usually, when I think about something like that, I mess up. I was relaxed and was able to do my thing and it happened.

“It’s pretty neat because last year I know in basketball Chane Behanan and George Fant were the two big names. Now the sport of bowling comes in and I’m the big name in that. It makes me feel good.”

That game has the target on Phelps when the first Region 1 bowling tournament takes place at Crescent Lanes starting at 11 a.m. today. The top two teams and top four individuals advance to the state tournament March 22-23 in Louisville.

“It’s pretty exciting for me and my team,” Phelps said. “I feel like I have a target on my back. Everybody wants to try and beat me. I like the competition, though.”

Seven teams will compete in the region tournament, the five schools in the Bowling Green/Warren County area, Graves County and Paducah Tilghman.

While Phelps is considered an individual favorite, Bowling Green has its sights set on the team title.

“The school has kind of gotten behind us and the students have gotten behind us,” BG coach Craig Widener said. “They like to come out and watch us bowl. We didn’t expect this when we started. We tried to just go out and have some fun. As the season has progressed, it has gotten a little more competitive, a little more serious.”

Nikki Keown leads the way for the Lady Purples. On the boys’ side, Widener said it’s been a more balanced effort with Zack Bordan, John Deeb, Zach Imel and Grant Sims all having strong seasons.

Widener believes his team can compete for a region title but added that Graves County and Paducah Tilghman are the unknown factors in the field.

“We like our chances,” Widener said. “One of the things we have been trying to focus on is being a little more consistent as the season goes on. That’s been our Achilles heel. We don’t really know how we are going to bowl. I think we have to focus on being consistent no matter how many games it takes.”