Area bowlers excited for challenges of coming season
Monday, November 20, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Anja Muskopf of Worthington Christian practices Nov. 14 at HP Lanes. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Whether it’s working to improve their league average, more consistently making spares or achieving that elusive 300 game, bowlers rely on repetition and endurance to reach their individual goals.
High school competitors face an additional challenge: having their personal objectives fit into the concept of a team sport.
Learning how to lift each other up and depend on one another during the toughest moments isn’t something that competitors like Hilliard Davidson senior Caelan Guthrie believe should be underscored.
That’s particularly true during the postseason, when a more difficult oil pattern typically propels the most experienced bowlers forward.
Last winter, Guthrie helped the Wildcats’ boys team make it for the first time to the Division I state tournament, where he finished seventh with a 674 series to earn second-team all-state honors and helped his team finish an area-best third overall.
“The memories I have at state are awesome,” Guthrie said. “The fact that the bowlers and I just connected the whole year, it paid off. Some of the reasons that we had a strong team was that we had strong bowlers one through four, and I felt that we could just feed off the success.”
All five of the Wildcats’ state competitors have returned for this winter’s prep season, which officially began Nov. 17. Numerous area boys and girls teams competed Nov. 18 in a pair of area tournaments, the Teays Valley Tournament at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, and the 20th-annual State Kickoff Tournament at HP Lanes.
The sectional and district tournaments are held at HP Lanes, and state is held at Wayne Webb’s.
Senior Nicholas Bremer, who was 15th (654) to earn honorable mention all-state honors, seniors Andy Willman and Derek Willman and sophomore Aiden Lieb also have returned for the Wildcats as they look to build off a district runner-up finish.
Gahanna’s Will Gray practices Nov. 14 at HP Lanes. Photo: John Hulkenberg
The only returning area bowler to finish ahead of Guthrie at last year’s state tournament is Jonathan Alder junior Drew Damron, who shot a 705 series but settled for a runner-up finish behind Beavercreek’s Carson Shroyer by 2 pins.
“It feels good knowing I have some support and a good team to back me up,” Damron said. “The environment and the people I bowl with make me better. I thought I was bowling well all of last year, and I just started bowling extra well toward the end and found my rhythm.”
Throughout most of the regular season, the oil pattern used typically is what is referred to as a “house shot,” which has a high volume of oil in the middle of the lane and a lower volume on the outside portions near the gutter.
In postseason action, however, individuals and teams compete on what’s called a “sports shot” pattern where there is more oil on the outside of the lane and less volume in the middle of the lane. This reduces the margin of error and requires more accuracy and consistency from the bowler.
According to Rusty Walter, who is in his 16th season heading Jonathan Alder’s program, consistently having bowlers who have a wider range of experience that includes tournament play has helped his program consistently be one of central Ohio’s best.
The Pioneers’ girls team has made it to state eight of the last nine seasons, including finishing fourth last season.
“The kids enjoy the competition and want to be part of a great sport,” said Walter, whose father, Jim Walter, has owned Plain City Lanes for more than 50 years. “We get good kids and then we give them an opportunity to get better at the game, and I think we’re good coaches. We get the kids a little one-on-one coaching and we get a couple good athletes.”
Gahanna’s Casey Burns releases the ball during a practice Nov. 14 at HP Lanes. Photo: John Hulkenberg
While senior Daisy Henderson is among the top returning players for the Jonathan Alder girls team as it looks to remain an area contender, the Pioneers could again end up battling Gahanna Lincoln for area supremacy.
The Lions captured Division I state championships in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and also qualified for state the last two seasons, finishing 11th in 2022 and 14th last winter.
“We’ve come across kids who have a passion for the sport and who want to put in the work,” said Yvonne Quiero, who was the Lions’ girls coach during their state title seasons in 2020 and ’21 and is now the school’s boys coach. “They want to make it to state, and they’ve got the talent. It has to do with who has the hot hand on that day. A lot of it has to do with being familiar with the house, understanding your equipment, understanding the lane play, and the longer you’re on the team, the more they become familiar with that.”
While sophomore William Gray is the top returnee for the Gahanna boys after finishing 15th at district, the girls team should be led by senior Casey Burns after she competed at state each of the past two seasons.
Sophomores Lacey Holden and Jessica Goldman also are key bowlers for the Gahanna girls team, which is in its second season under coach Todd Burns, Casey Burns’ father.
While Casey Burns acknowledges the difficulty of learning to deal with the more difficult oil patterns and anxious moments that come with tournament play, she is another who believes in the importance of working with teammates to achieve success despite the individuality of the sport.
“A big part of it is definitely our team chemistry,” Casey Burns said. “It’s always hard to see seniors graduate. I know every sport says working together is a huge thing, but it’s really important in bowling. A lot of it is not only winning for yourself, but winning for your team. You obviously want to play well to win, but you also want to do it for your teammates.”
Gahanna’s Khai Agnew practices Nov. 14 at HP Lanes. Photo: John Hulkenberg