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Truman High School is in the hunt for a second straight league championship in boys bowling, but the Cougars’ goal is to return to the state finals.
With two meets to go in the regular season, Truman was 3-1 and tied for first with Roosevelt in the Downriver League and 8½-1½ overall, including play vs. teams in the Western Wayne Athletic Conference, which combines with the Downriver League throughout the year.
Truman was undefeated in their first seven matches. Whether or not they win the league, the Cougars are hoping to peak in time for post-season play, which gets under way Friday.
Truman is one of 14 teams scheduled to compete in the Division 2 regional tournament hosted by Kennedy High School at Taylor Lanes. There will be plenty of opposition from bowlers from Downriver schools Kennedy, Huron, Riverview, Romulus and Trenton, plus Adrian Carleton Airport, Chelsea, Dearborn Heights Annapolis, Inkster, Milan, Tecumseh and Ypsilanti.
Team competition takes place across the state on Friday with singles action following on Saturday. The top three teams and top 10 individual bowlers advance to the state finals on March 1 and 2. The Division 2 finals are at Century Lanes in Waterford.
Huron, Kennedy and Romulus advanced from last year’s regional tourney. In singles, Truman’s Preston Wiley and Nicholas Banks qualified at regionals. Both of them have since graduated.
With five seniors on the current team, it’s now or never for this group of bowlers.
“Our goal is to win regionals and go to states,” said Ryan Vernier, who is in his fourth year of varsity bowling.
“I think they’re going to do it,” said his coach and father, Steve Vernier. “They really have the potential to really do well.”
The Cougars are averaging 914 as a team. Vernier and Zack Lewis – also in his fourth year on the varsity – lead the way with averages of 202 and 201, respectively. Vernier has the league’s second-highest two-game scratch series, 513.
James Coffman, in his second year with the varsity, is right behind with a 198 average and leads the team by taking 15 out of 20 head-to-head matches against bowlers from other high schools in league play.
David Hamlein (186 average), Rhys Hamilton (174) and Will Ellis (155) round out the six-man team. Hamlein is in his second season with the Cougars. Hamilton and Ellis are rookies.
Making it to states “is real important,” Lewis said. “It’s my last year. I want to finish it off good. I think we can go far.”
Lewis said he wants the entire team to qualify for the state finals.
“We missed out on it the past few years,” he said. “I think it would be a good experience.”
Ryan Vernier agreed that the team has the potential. The Cougars, like other teams, must master the “middle of the road” oil pattern, the lane preparation used during the regional and state tournament.
“We’re a good team together,” he said. “We keep each other going. We keep the momentum going. We always root each other on.”
Coach Vernier said the bowlers were in favor of having a small team.
“We like it a lot better that way,” he said. “We talked to the kids and said there would be a lot of bowling and they would have to make every meet and bowl in every Baker game. They said they were up for it. ‘That’s why we’re here. We want to bowl.’”
The coach said it’s important for each bowler to focus on each shot individually.
“The main thing we’re trying to drill in their heads is to concentrate on one shot at a time,” he said. “If one guy messes up, the other guys pick him up. Don’t hang your head. Let’s bowl as a team. Let’s cheer each other on.”
There’s plenty of cheering going on with the Truman girls team, which has the minimum five bowlers in tow and has struggled to get victories. The girls are 2-8 this season with two matches to go.
“It was tough getting five girls together,” Coach Pam Horner said. “But the ones I have are pretty awesome girls. They’re a lot of fun to be around. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s teaching sportsmanship and doing something you don’t normally do: come out and meet other kids from other schools. I really like our camaraderie.”
Three girls returned from last year’s team, led by senior captain and anchor Krystal Howard, who has a 165 average – eighth best among bowlers from Downriver League schools.
Howard is the only senior on the team. The rest are sophomores.
The other two returnees are Haley Leleniewski, who carries a 139 average, and Destini Murphy, who averages 117.
The newcomers are Kelsey Caulfield and Brittany Conyer. Without them, there would be no girls team this year.
“We’re a good team; we just need to concentrate on the frames we’re on, not the previous ones,” said Howard, who is in her fourth year with the varsity. “We’re all pretty much best friends on the team. We’re all alike.”
Howard, who is in her fourth year with the varsity, knows her time is limited and wants to end the year strong.
BOWLING: Truman boys' bowlers seek another league title and more
With two meets to go in the regular season, Truman was 3-1 and tied for first with Roosevelt in the Downriver League and 8½-1½ overall, including play vs. teams in the Western Wayne Athletic Conference, which combines with the Downriver League throughout the year.
Truman was undefeated in their first seven matches. Whether or not they win the league, the Cougars are hoping to peak in time for post-season play, which gets under way Friday.
Truman is one of 14 teams scheduled to compete in the Division 2 regional tournament hosted by Kennedy High School at Taylor Lanes. There will be plenty of opposition from bowlers from Downriver schools Kennedy, Huron, Riverview, Romulus and Trenton, plus Adrian Carleton Airport, Chelsea, Dearborn Heights Annapolis, Inkster, Milan, Tecumseh and Ypsilanti.
Team competition takes place across the state on Friday with singles action following on Saturday. The top three teams and top 10 individual bowlers advance to the state finals on March 1 and 2. The Division 2 finals are at Century Lanes in Waterford.
Huron, Kennedy and Romulus advanced from last year’s regional tourney. In singles, Truman’s Preston Wiley and Nicholas Banks qualified at regionals. Both of them have since graduated.
With five seniors on the current team, it’s now or never for this group of bowlers.
“Our goal is to win regionals and go to states,” said Ryan Vernier, who is in his fourth year of varsity bowling.
“I think they’re going to do it,” said his coach and father, Steve Vernier. “They really have the potential to really do well.”
The Cougars are averaging 914 as a team. Vernier and Zack Lewis – also in his fourth year on the varsity – lead the way with averages of 202 and 201, respectively. Vernier has the league’s second-highest two-game scratch series, 513.
James Coffman, in his second year with the varsity, is right behind with a 198 average and leads the team by taking 15 out of 20 head-to-head matches against bowlers from other high schools in league play.
David Hamlein (186 average), Rhys Hamilton (174) and Will Ellis (155) round out the six-man team. Hamlein is in his second season with the Cougars. Hamilton and Ellis are rookies.
Making it to states “is real important,” Lewis said. “It’s my last year. I want to finish it off good. I think we can go far.”
Lewis said he wants the entire team to qualify for the state finals.
“We missed out on it the past few years,” he said. “I think it would be a good experience.”
Ryan Vernier agreed that the team has the potential. The Cougars, like other teams, must master the “middle of the road” oil pattern, the lane preparation used during the regional and state tournament.
“We’re a good team together,” he said. “We keep each other going. We keep the momentum going. We always root each other on.”
Coach Vernier said the bowlers were in favor of having a small team.
“We like it a lot better that way,” he said. “We talked to the kids and said there would be a lot of bowling and they would have to make every meet and bowl in every Baker game. They said they were up for it. ‘That’s why we’re here. We want to bowl.’”
The coach said it’s important for each bowler to focus on each shot individually.
“The main thing we’re trying to drill in their heads is to concentrate on one shot at a time,” he said. “If one guy messes up, the other guys pick him up. Don’t hang your head. Let’s bowl as a team. Let’s cheer each other on.”
There’s plenty of cheering going on with the Truman girls team, which has the minimum five bowlers in tow and has struggled to get victories. The girls are 2-8 this season with two matches to go.
“It was tough getting five girls together,” Coach Pam Horner said. “But the ones I have are pretty awesome girls. They’re a lot of fun to be around. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s teaching sportsmanship and doing something you don’t normally do: come out and meet other kids from other schools. I really like our camaraderie.”
Three girls returned from last year’s team, led by senior captain and anchor Krystal Howard, who has a 165 average – eighth best among bowlers from Downriver League schools.
Howard is the only senior on the team. The rest are sophomores.
The other two returnees are Haley Leleniewski, who carries a 139 average, and Destini Murphy, who averages 117.
The newcomers are Kelsey Caulfield and Brittany Conyer. Without them, there would be no girls team this year.
“We’re a good team; we just need to concentrate on the frames we’re on, not the previous ones,” said Howard, who is in her fourth year with the varsity. “We’re all pretty much best friends on the team. We’re all alike.”
Howard, who is in her fourth year with the varsity, knows her time is limited and wants to end the year strong.
Last Updated: 2/15/2013 3:53:24 PM EST