Riverside Brookfield High School junior Ronnie Murray already was a busy athlete with golf and baseball. He happily has become a three-sport athlete. Murray now is part of the Bulldogs’ first boys and girls bowling teams after the sport was a club activity for two years. Their home lanes are Bowlero in Lyons.
“Some of my friends were doing it and I thought it would be kind of fun to just come and bowl,” Murray said.
“I was aware of [the club], but I thought it would take up a lot of time with baseball. I didn’t think about doing it back then, but I’m glad I started doing it now.”
Both teams have had great turnouts: 29 for the boys and 15 for the girls. Their schedules are predominantly Upstate Eight Conference opponents.
Senior girls bowler Isa Oliver joins Murray among the numerous multi-sport athletes.
“I was really excited, just a new way to have fun. And it was really cool because during the offseason, cross country and track, I had nothing to do so being able to have fun with it and become better was really cool,” Oliver said. “Once everyone starts cheering, you feel that rush of energy and it makes you feel really good.”
Phil McGovern is the boys head coach. Varsity members include seniors Rylan Bruno, Peter Gardiner, Cal Milchhoefer, Ben O’Brien and Josh Udelson and juniors Jaden Barrett, Eric Cardenas, Andreas Gasca, Finn Lubeck, Murray, Chrisson Mayksor and Edward Schook. There are 17 more bowlers on junior varsity.
Girls team members are seniors Katie Doyle and Oliver, juniors Abby Ford, Ava Haralamos, Zoe Jeffcott, Jessica Kot, Ava Morg, Audrey Raymond, Sofia Sanchez and Lucia Vazzana and freshmen Isabella Buczek, Emily Cubas, Amira Glenn, Mariana Lozano and Mia Torres. Doug Schultz is head coach.
Freshman Teddy Kowalski is the only bowler among the two groups with significant league experience. McGovern said the focus is teaching basics and having fun while establishing a competitive mentality.
“It’s not just walk up there and throw anymore,” McGovern said. “We’re really building a program here. We’ve seen awesome improvement over the course of the year. The next step is getting them their own equipment. They’re all using house balls from Bowlero. They’re gaining interest. They want to get their own shoes, own balls, which is the goal for year one.”
As of last week, O’Brien (123), Murray (122), Udelson (121.6) and Milchhofer (119.78) had the top-four season averages. Lubeck, Gasca, Bruno and Barrett were between 115 and 112.
“So much fun. I’m really glad I’m here. Every day is fun. Even if you have a bad day, you can get over it,” said Barrett, also a football player.
“It seemed pretty easy to pick up, everybody being new, so I didn’t really feel left out. I feel like it’s a way more laid-back sport. I enjoy just being able to come and bowl. It’s really relaxing to end your day after a long day at school.”
McGovern supervised the bowling club, which had roughly 30 students attend per event. However, only a handful of the current bowlers were club regulars.
Doyle, another girls soccer player, enjoyed the bowling club with her friends.
“We just came and bowled for fun,” Doyle said. “That was for a good time but this is a little more competitive and a little more serious. And it’s a lot more time consuming.”
In UEC duals, teams use six bowlers per game with the top five scores going toward the team total. Teams compete for five points, one for each game victory and two for the series winner.
The boys are 1-11 in UEC duals with six points, beating West Aurora 5-0, Nov. 19.
The girls are 2-5 and 2-4 in the UEC with 11 points, beating West Aurora 1,775 to 1,608 Dec. 10 and Larkin 1,586 to 581 Thursday.
They debuted Dec. 2 against South Elgin, 14th at state last year
“I feel like a lot of people were interested just because it was a first-year sport,” said Raymond, who also plays golf and soccer. “I’ve had a blast. It’s been really fun just hanging out with new people and just playing something that isn’t as competitive where we can all just have a good time.”
Raymond and Torres have been the top-scoring girls with Ford, another soccer player.
“I’ve just enjoyed having fun with the other bowlers,” Ford said. “In soccer, everyone is in it to win and everyone wants to play good for their teammates. In bowling everyone just wants to have fun. It’s no problem at all if you do bad. Everyone’s happy at the end of the day.”
This also makes Schultz a three-sport varsity head coach. He also coaches softball and girls golf, which has enjoyed increasing numbers the past couple of seasons.
“It’s pretty awesome. Being a multi-sport coach and being able to kind of build another program has been very fulfilling,” Schultz said. “We’re building the plane as we fly it. But we’re progressing. What I tell the girls is you can’t focus on what other girls are doing in the other lanes. You need to work on your progression and what you do to get better will make the team better.”