O’FALLON — As they watched their teams go through their paces Thursday afternoon, Alton High bowling coach Jeff Woszczynski and Jersey coach Chris Skinner saw groups apparently unaffected by an impending date at state. That’s something they hope carries over to Friday’s first round of the IHSA Boys State Bowling Tournament at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon.

“The atmosphere is look and positive,” Woszczynski said. “I can easily see this happening (Friday).”

Woszczynski’s Redbirds, as well as the Jersey High Panthers, are among the teams who qualified for the two-day state tourney by virtue of their finishes at last Saturday’s sectional action, where the top six teams in thefinal standings advance to state.

Alton finished fifth at the Cahokia Sectional Saturday, held at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville. The Redbirds finished with a pin total of 6,285. Jersey was right behind in the final team spot with 6,241 pins.

“We had a good practice today and the kids are very relaxed,” Skinner said. “They’re excited for the opportunity to bowl in the state tournament.”

Collinsville claimed the sectional team title Saturday with a score of 6,795, followed by O’Fallon, Belleville East and Cahokia just ahead of Alton and Jersey. Highland was seventh, followed by Herrin, Sale, Triad, Columbia and Mount Vernon.

The Kahoks’ Clay Hartman was the individual sectional champion with 1,540 pins.

With the best teams from across the state converging on St. Clair Bowl the next two days, the atmosphere will likely be more charged than any meet any of the teams have encountered this season.

“There will be a lot of people in there,” said Woszczynski, who has led the Redbirds to six state appearances since his came on board in 2003. “It can be pretty hectic, but once it starts, most of the guys will settle in.

“Some of these boys have been here before and the others are just treating this as another tournament. I think we will do well.”

Saturday’s session will begin with warmups at 9:30 a.m., with the first round of play starting at 9:45. The afternoon session will get under way with warmups at 12:45 and the second round starting at 1 p.m.

Saturday, surviving 12 teams and 30 individual bowlers will starts with warmups at 9:30 and the third round at 1 p.m. Play is expected to end about 4 p.m.

Last season, Rockton Hononegah was the team champion. O’Fallon was the highest-placing area team at fifth.

Alton finished 11th overall at last year’s state tourney. Two seasons ago, the Redbirds finished seventh.

Senior Jacob Donahue, who bowled a 300 game in the first session, led the way for Alton at the sectional with a total of 1,395 pins. Tyler Stevenson had a score of 1,381, followed by Chris Perkey 1,249 and Matt Fritz with a 1,167. Other scores included Nik Megos with a five game 900 and Derek Henderson with a 193 game. Others on the Redbirds state roster will include Matt Engdale and Will Paisley.

“Right now, our goal is to shoot around 6,200 for Friday,” Woszczynski said. “That should get is to the next day.”

Jersey was paced at the sectional by Jacob Freand, who bowled a 1,348. Jeff Gump had a 1,256, Brandon Handler a 1,222, Dane Farmer a 1,211 and Kevin Mangrum a 1,204. Other Panthers on the state roster include Dylan Blackburn, Greg Towell and Mike Russell.

I think if we stay consistent and convert our spares, we have a good shot at making the second day, and that is the goal,” Skinner said. “The anything can happen.

“They’ve been wanting to read this tournament for four years and now they have their shot.”

Reach Pete Hayes at 463-2500 or Twitter @HayeserPete