Sophomore Braeden Baker shoots for a spare.   Photo by Olivia VanBuskirk

The pins tip over and the words on the screen reveal the score…STRIKE!

Last Thursday, Dec. 1, the bowling team held their seventh competition for this season at home. Their head coach, Coach Zach Ferree, led the boys bowling team to another victory.

Coach Zach Ferree said, “So far, the boys team has been doing pretty well. They have a record of five to one. They’re starting to come around pretty well. Hitting their stride about the right time of the season right before sectionals.”

The high school practices about once a week, usually Mondays from 3:45 to 5 or 5:30. At times when the team does not have any matches, the coaches try to fit practice in twice a week.

While the team has been succeeding, there are still a few things that the team, together or individually, needs to improve on.

Senior Brandon Smith, who has been bowling since he was three, said, “I need to improve on my consistency on the lanes.”

Coach Ferree said, “There’s always room for improvement. There are individual goals for each person as well as a team goal. Ideally at the end of the year, we defeat them at the state championship. Realistically though, every bowler wants to become a better bowler and a better person through high school bowling.”

On the topic of individual goals, some members of the bowling team have already set their goals for the rest of the season.

Sophomore Nicholas Spier, who has been bowling since he was ten, said, “My goal for this season is to get more revs on my ball.”

Senior Noah Masterson, who has been bowling since he was five, said, “My goal for this season is to go to state as a team.”

The team finds that there are also many things to like about bowling. Some members of the team like the feeling a strike creates. Others just like being able to hang out with friends and visit different bowling alleys.