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To get in better shape about a year ago, Louis Lanning decided to jog more often. His goal was to run about two miles regularly in his neighborhood.
Instead, Lanning strained his ACL and was forced to be sidelined for his junior year as a member of the Romulus High School varsity bowling team. He felt he let down the team.
Now a senior, Lanning is back with the Eagles and is still feeling some of the affects of the knee injury, but has taken his game to a new level. After four conference matches in the young season, he led the team with a 202 average – a 30-pin improvement
“I’m not going to let the team down,” he said. “They’re like my family. This is my last year. I want to prove to them that I’m going to stick with the team the entire year.”
Both the Romulus boys and girls opened the season with 1-3 records in the combined Western Wayne Athletic Conference and Downriver League, but a couple of the losses were very close and the Eagles show improvement every week.
The boys’ team lost three bowlers who rolled in the state finals a year ago. Two graduated; a third decided not to bowl this year.
Lanning, senior Colton Laginess (141 average), junior Gary Logerstedt (153) and sophomore Chris Silvey (194) are back with the team, combining with new varsity bowlers Jaylen Green (108), a junior , and Chase Von Drak (184), a sophomore.
The girls’ team, which is without four bowlers from a year ago, is led by senior Megan Dotson (157). Five juniors – Kaelon Knight (134), Rachel Leonard (118), Samantha Stobbe (116), Cheyenne Adams (113) and Kate Orr (86) – and freshman Chelsi Hillard (101) round out a team that is getting more seasoned by the week.
“Some of them not only bowl during practice and during the matches, but they also come here (Romulus Lanes) and bowl on their own,” Coach Don Makowski said. “Many of the girls have never bowled in competition or any kind of league and they’re really raw. But they’re getting over the hump. Their fundamentals are getting really good. They’re understanding what it takes to win a match.”
For the boys’ team, everyone needs to bowl his best game every game, Makowski said.
“We need everyone to bowl consistently well,” he said. “That’s what we’re shooting for the rest of the year. If we do that, we can get prepared for regionals and states. It’s just a matter of getting them all on the same page at the same time.”
Lanning, who also is on the school golf team and robotics team, said he enjoys the close connection between the bowlers on the team.
“I’m feel I’m a decent asset to the team,” he said. “All of these guys love me and I love all these guys.”
He and Laginess agreed that team spirit is important to success.
“We play competitive and work as a team,” said Laginess, who is in his fourth year of varsity bowling. “We’re doing good so far. We’ve got to try our best.
“Bowling is a fun sport. You’ve got to think with your mind how you can nail those strikes and spares.”
Players cheer each other on.
“We are extremely rambunctious when it comes to our matches,” Lanning said. “We are loud. We give each other momentum and energy. We keep everybody happy. It’s important not to get frustrated. Last year, we had an intense team. This year, we fell down a little bit, but we’re back to our old selves. We’re getting excited and hyper for every match, no matter what.”
Adams, who is in her third year with the girls team, said she and her teammates have fun, but they get serious when they need to be.
“We’re not just messing around,” she said. “It’s more serious than people think. It is fun, but we do compete with other teams. It is a competition.”
Adams said even the newcomers to the team have practiced hard and raised their averages about 20 pins each. “That’s really good,” she said.
Most of the girls have been friends since middle school, which helps with team camaraderie.
“We fit perfectly this year,” Adams said. “Everyone has some sort of experience this year to get to where we want to. It’s not just fun and games. We want to place.
“Some of us want to make it to states. We have never been there. We want something new for us for ourselves.”
BOWLING: Senior returns from injury to lead Romulus
Instead, Lanning strained his ACL and was forced to be sidelined for his junior year as a member of the Romulus High School varsity bowling team. He felt he let down the team.
Now a senior, Lanning is back with the Eagles and is still feeling some of the affects of the knee injury, but has taken his game to a new level. After four conference matches in the young season, he led the team with a 202 average – a 30-pin improvement
“I’m not going to let the team down,” he said. “They’re like my family. This is my last year. I want to prove to them that I’m going to stick with the team the entire year.”
Both the Romulus boys and girls opened the season with 1-3 records in the combined Western Wayne Athletic Conference and Downriver League, but a couple of the losses were very close and the Eagles show improvement every week.
The boys’ team lost three bowlers who rolled in the state finals a year ago. Two graduated; a third decided not to bowl this year.
Lanning, senior Colton Laginess (141 average), junior Gary Logerstedt (153) and sophomore Chris Silvey (194) are back with the team, combining with new varsity bowlers Jaylen Green (108), a junior , and Chase Von Drak (184), a sophomore.
The girls’ team, which is without four bowlers from a year ago, is led by senior Megan Dotson (157). Five juniors – Kaelon Knight (134), Rachel Leonard (118), Samantha Stobbe (116), Cheyenne Adams (113) and Kate Orr (86) – and freshman Chelsi Hillard (101) round out a team that is getting more seasoned by the week.
“Some of them not only bowl during practice and during the matches, but they also come here (Romulus Lanes) and bowl on their own,” Coach Don Makowski said. “Many of the girls have never bowled in competition or any kind of league and they’re really raw. But they’re getting over the hump. Their fundamentals are getting really good. They’re understanding what it takes to win a match.”
For the boys’ team, everyone needs to bowl his best game every game, Makowski said.
“We need everyone to bowl consistently well,” he said. “That’s what we’re shooting for the rest of the year. If we do that, we can get prepared for regionals and states. It’s just a matter of getting them all on the same page at the same time.”
Lanning, who also is on the school golf team and robotics team, said he enjoys the close connection between the bowlers on the team.
“I’m feel I’m a decent asset to the team,” he said. “All of these guys love me and I love all these guys.”
He and Laginess agreed that team spirit is important to success.
“We play competitive and work as a team,” said Laginess, who is in his fourth year of varsity bowling. “We’re doing good so far. We’ve got to try our best.
“Bowling is a fun sport. You’ve got to think with your mind how you can nail those strikes and spares.”
Players cheer each other on.
“We are extremely rambunctious when it comes to our matches,” Lanning said. “We are loud. We give each other momentum and energy. We keep everybody happy. It’s important not to get frustrated. Last year, we had an intense team. This year, we fell down a little bit, but we’re back to our old selves. We’re getting excited and hyper for every match, no matter what.”
Adams, who is in her third year with the girls team, said she and her teammates have fun, but they get serious when they need to be.
“We’re not just messing around,” she said. “It’s more serious than people think. It is fun, but we do compete with other teams. It is a competition.”
Adams said even the newcomers to the team have practiced hard and raised their averages about 20 pins each. “That’s really good,” she said.
Most of the girls have been friends since middle school, which helps with team camaraderie.
“We fit perfectly this year,” Adams said. “Everyone has some sort of experience this year to get to where we want to. It’s not just fun and games. We want to place.
“Some of us want to make it to states. We have never been there. We want something new for us for ourselves.”
Last Updated: 1/11/2013 10:15:29 PM EST