Metro, MVC appear strong again in bowling

By Jeff Hare, correspondent

High school bowling kicks off its season this week and, once again, this appears to be a very competitive season.

A very interesting season, according to Prairie Coach Don Wilfong.

“Iowa is full of exceptional bowlers,” he said. “Every team we will see this year can be viewed as a top competitor.

“I expect this season to be full of surprises.”

Linn-Mar Coach Andrew Diercks agrees, especially when talking about teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

“The MVC is filled with very talented teams and bowlers,” he said, “and on any given day, it can be anyone's game.”

The MVC is full of teams with veteran bowlers.

“Dubuque Senior finished high in the state, and returns most of their team,” Jefferson Coach Virgil Cerveny said. “Hempstead finished high in state and returns two. Waterloo East dominated our conference last season, and has two returners.

“The conference will be a tough once again.”

Linn-Mar could be the boys' team to beat in the Metro.

“Junior Dreyson Robb won the regional title last year and I expect him to be a leader, along with junior Justin Wyant, who qualified for state as a freshman,” Diercks said.

Prairie just missed out on state last year and returns Brogan Fiala, Jeremy Cline and Nick Blood, among others.

“We have 50 plus bowlers this year at Prairie,” Wilfong said. “They are all expecting to have a big year. Who am I to argue? I guess we will see when the pin fall is totaled.”

Xavier junior Tara Trcka is the defending state champion and is looking for a repeat.

“I'd like to think Tara can win it again, but there is a lot of good bowlers out there,” Saints Coach Russ Camacho said. “It's like they always say, it's how the pins fall.”

Kennedy looks to be strong on the girls' side, returning Amanda Wiedemeier, Tanner Rhodes and Ashley Hoppe. Washington will be led by Keely Pernicka and Ashley Duffy and Jeffersons return state qualifiers Courtney Moore and Nichole Petersen.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 AJ Chapman (West Delaware) - Selected as a member of the US National Junior Team. Finished seventh at nationals last summer.

Tara Trcka (Cedar Rapids Xavier) - Won the state individual title last season as a junior.

Brogan Fiala (Cedar Rapids Prairie) - Expected to be a big part of a Hawk team, hoping to make a run into the state tournament.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Boys

C.R. Jefferson - Perennial power, J-Hawks returns three bowlers and expect to make a strong showing this season.

Linn-Mar - Returns three from a team that did very well late last season, including a commanding win in the regional meet.

Waterloo East - Dominated the MVC last season, and returns two.

Girls

C.R. Jefferson - Returns four letterwinners from a state qualifying team.

C.R. Kennedy - Returns three from a state tournament team.

 C.R. Xavier - Looking to improve behind Tara Trcka.