Defending team champions 'Aiea (girls) and Hawai'i Baptist (boys), and Sacred Hearts' senior Kristin Tom figure to be contenders again in the Billy Tees state high school bowling championships that begin today at Fort Shafter Bowling Center.

Pins start dropping at 8 a.m. and continue through the night. The tournament resumes tomorrow at 8 a.m. In all, bowlers will have rolled nine games.

Na Ali'i are led by Christine Kealalio, who has a 184 average and finished fourth in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association individual tournament. She finished seventh in the state last year.

Mililani, which was runner-up last year, is expected to contend again. The Trojans have Darrolyn Gaspar (185) and sisters Jacqueline (183) and Jamie Lara (180).

Tom, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu postseason champion with a season average of 176, is a top contender.

Other notables include HBA's Sky Uyehara (177), St. Andrew's Suzanna Signaigo (182), Iolani's Joy Ishibashi (176), Maryknoll's Faye Castillo (175), Mid-Pacific's Cheryl Sun (176), Leilehua's Jennifer Boissell (195), Kapolei's Cherish Saunders (190), Kaua'i's Noel Campos (198), Kapa'a's Kelli Cacal (173), and Hilo's Kelsi Nitahara (163) and Nicole Kojiro (162).

In boys' competition, Hawai'i Baptist is led by Peter Mochizuki (191) and Nicolas Ogawa (186). Another contender is Mililani, led by Shaun Hamamura (212) and Kyle Rzonca (196).

Other top teams include Hilo with Orinn Watanabe (179) and Gregg Okamura (178); Maui with Roland Caniaveral (180) and Jacob Davis (178); and Kaua'i with Dominic Piano (198) and Jesse Duarte (189).

Last year's boys' champion, Maryknoll's Vaseem Anwar, graduated, so this year's contenders include Waimea's Kekoa Masuda (212), 'Aiea's Shane Dagdag (200), Pearl City's James Pirtle (194) and Punahou's Tyler Wong (185).

The tournament uses nine-game series.

Those attending are warned that their vehicles must have current registrations and safety checks, and drivers must have a valid driver's license to enter the military facility.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.