By Cory Sparks, Sports Editor
Indian Trail High School & Academy’s girls’ and boys’ varsity bowling teams have found the pocket this year, rolling into the win column the majority of times thus far.
The boys, currently sporting a 10-8 record, are sitting in fifth place behind the high schools of Park, Bradford, and Burlington, and Horlick (in that order) in District 3A. A total of just three matches separate the top five teams, setting up an intense battle to the finish.
“I feel like we really roll this year,” said Nicholas Bucko, a General Studies sophomore. “At the beginning of the year we were a little slow, but now it just seems like we can keep striking and just keep winning.”
Currently striking at a rate of 45.71 percent, the stats back up Bucko’s assessment. However, despite the tremendous stretch the boys have played so far, players have identified areas to improve.
“The challenge I have is slowing my feet,” said Cameron Oglesby, a General Studies freshman. “When I get up there, I rush.”
Miniscule adjustments here and there could be the difference between fourth and first for Indian Trail as their open frame percentage is sitting at 21.19 percent (also fifth in District 3A). One aspect of this team that could help them succeed is how well they mesh together as a unit, and with that bond comes a great quantity of confidence.
“Our team chemistry is like the Golden State Warriors; we are unstoppable. When we get on the lane, you might want to watch out,” said Oglesby.
The girls are flaunting a 11-3 record and sitting in second place, just two matches behind the district leading Tremper High School girls’ bowling team.
The leaders of this year’s teams have a ton of experience on their side, a sure aid in their success thus far.
“I joined bowling because I had been bowling in middle school, and it just was a nice transition into the high school season,” said Erin Conley, a General Studies senior.
Along with the thousands of frames these bowlers have under their belts, these girls possess a personal connection with each other that resonates throughout the lanes day in and day out.
“Everyone here, this bowling team, it’s like a family. We all love to bowl together, we all have fun at every practice. It’s a good time,” said Jadyn Dostal, a General Studies sophomore.
Along with their triumphant play has come numerous challenges. These difficulties have been clearly identified by the bowlers, and they take them into consideration game by game when it comes to strategy.
“The most challenging aspect about bowling is probably switching between lanes and then going on a different oil pattern,” said Erin Pfeuffer, a General Studies senior. “You have to bowl on a new shot and you have to learn how to be consistent with it.”
Despite a heartbreaking loss to Tremper, the girls aren’t letting those challenges overcome their determination to rise to the top this year.
Indian Trail’s road to a hopeful state run is backed by the fact it holds four of the top 25 bowlers in terms of fill percentage (strikes/spares per 100 frames) in Conley (85.26 percent), sophomore Autumn Murawski (78.57 percent), Pfeuffer (76.78 percent), and eighth-grader Ashlee Murawski (70.62 percent).
Both the boys’ and girls’ bowling teams have been putting together promising seasons, but these next few weeks will determine just how far Indian Trail can roll into the postseason this year.