The sound of pins falling on the lane and cheers from the sideline erupt as the DGS girls varsity bowling team wins another match. Starting their season off with a win against Plainfield Central and Hinsdale South, the bowling team at DGS demands a presence.
January marks the middle of the bowling season. Senior Karissa Reyes has been on the varsity bowling team for all four years. How far the team advances is dependent on their sectional match performance.
“Our team goal right now is to continue to be first in the conference because right now we are 4-0. Personally, it’s making it to state as a team since it is not individual and maintaining conference,” Reyes said.
They played one of the conference teams, Hinsdale South, defeating them with a score of 2630 to 2625. The season started in November and can end as far away as mid-February if they make it to state.
Practices are held right after school; the bowling team must travel as they do not practice at DGS. The team hosts home games and practices at Bowlero in Woodridge under the coaching of Adam Petersen.
“At practice, we start with warmup drills at the foul line like the one step drill to practice our timing and hand position on the ball. For games, by the time we get to the match, we have about 10 minutes to warm up, about five minutes on each lane,” Petersen said.
The current team has some new bowlers as well as some returning team members. Reyes explains the team dynamic with the increased amount of new people.
“It makes it fun to meet new people this year. As a team, we try to get close with each other even though some of us haven’t known each other for as long as others. We do work well all together though,” Reyes said.
Some members, like Reyes, have hopes to continue bowling after high school. Peterson, also bowling in high school, passes down his knowledge and techniques to the girls varsity bowling team.
The team attended the Leyden Invitational on Jan. 27 away at Star Dust Bowl. They took on 14 teams including rival teams Downers Grove North and Hinsdale South.
