With the bowling season rolling to a start, new members are popping up and returning players are ecstatic to be back at the lanes. After just barely missing states last year, the girls team is raring to go in this season, with multiple individuals averaging just below 200 for tryouts. This fierce start has also highlighted some goals from the players and coaches for upcoming competitions.
Tryouts took place on Nov. 15, 18, and 19, and the team practices three days per week. The practice planning and payment is mostly done by Seth Stern, the MHS bowling coach for the last decade. There is much that Stern aims for the team to achieve, including having a winning record and ending the season with a trophy from States, but he mainly hopes that each individual achieves their own goals. “As a team, every athlete creates a goal and meets their goal,” he explained, noting that he takes pride in “just the look on their faces saying they can’t do it, then they do it.” Most members’ goals relate to improving skills and PRs, but this broad category welcomes flexibility for each individual to make the sport their own.
With the fantastic coaches and the adaptability, it’s a sport that sets no limits for those who join. It’s also an extremely inviting team. “I think this is an experience everyone should try out for because it’s like a team and family all in one,” said Ashley Newton, a senior bowler. “Even if you feel like you can’t do it, it’s easy to try out.”
The MHS bowling team is set up for success this year, whether it be the coaches hopes or the players’ mindsets; they are all preparing and shooting for the best, skyrocketing themselves into what will hopefully be an incredible season.
Ashley Newton, a senior at MHS, is a three-year Milford bowler and had no prior experience before joining. After some encouragement from friends, she decided to try out her sophomore year. She explained, “Coming in, I knew nothing, and (the coaches) taught me so much within the first year that I made varsity.” Newton’s skills have improved dramatically since then, meeting her goal for last year of beating her PR of around 150. This year she hopes to break 200 and have the team make it to States. Not only this, but she also is excited for another season with her cousin, Brookelyn Reminder. “I hope that we make varsity again together and that we take this year by storm since it’s my final year,” Newton stated.
Joining her junior year without having played competitively, Jaelyn Carlson is keen to see what’s in store for her this season. She initially joined because of her father. “My dad and I had a great bonding experience with bowling,” she explained. Carlson now aspires to refine her skills. She also initially joined the team with a close friend, Mila Graeber, and joked that Carlson was a “grandma” and Graeber was a “Gerber-baby.” Though Carlson has Graeber to lean on, she also hopes to reach out and connect with more people. She stated, “I hope to make more friends, that’s always a goal.” Carlson is looking forward to an excellent season of building up her skills and creating new friendships.
After 11 years of bowling experience, Macy Shaw, a MHS sophomore, joined bowling her freshman year following her brothers, Alex and Brian Shaw. Having her siblings play before her did add some concerns. “On rides home from my brothers’ meets on their bad games and bowling days, they would discourage me because of their bad vibe,” Shaw stated. While this was an issue, she elaborated, “It also encouraged me because it always made me want to be better than them.” Sibling rivalry aside, Shaw had already improved her throwing, hooking, and speed during her first season. This year, she hopes to build on her technique and branch out to create more friendships.
Brookelyn Reminder, a sophomore at MHS, started visiting practices before her freshman year even started. Though she had no competitive experience, Reminder would go to practices while she was in eighth grade to see her cousin, Ashley Newton. Reminder joined once she was in high school and loved it more than any other sport. She stated how she enjoyed “meeting the team and the coaches…everyone’s nice and understanding.” Reminder liked the atmosphere of bowling, even one of the most competitive parts: the season’s last competition. “Regionals was really fun; it was nerve racking, but it was fun,” she exclaimed. During her first season, Reminder achieved a PR of 165; during this season, she hopes to crush this score, possibly also shooting for a 200.