Bowling growing among preps

CEDAR RAPIDS - The sport of bowling has not changed much over the years.

Ten pins still stand at the end of a 65-foot lane, and the goal of the bowler is to topple all 10 with one roll.

What has changed, especially at the high school level, is the amount of interest in the sport. The girls first sanctioned the sport in 2006 with 53 teams. Eight years later, that number has ballooned to 94 teams statewide. The boys joined the fray in 2010 with 84 schools. That number is expected to grow to 102 for the 2014-15 season.

The increase in teams led to the addition of a third class for both boys' and girls' bowling. The reclassification will allow an additional team per class to advance to the state tournament, which has expanded to three days (Feb. 23-25). The top three teams in each class will receive trophies and the top 10 individuals in each class will medal.

'They wanted to provide more representation at the state level,” said Linn-Mar girls' coach Andy Diercks. 'They also wanted to spread out the crowd a little bit at the state tournament. Last year, they had to turn two busloads of fans away because the fire marshal wouldn't allow any more.”

Many bowlers cited accessibility as a main reason for hitting the lanes. Although high-end shoes and bowling balls are available, they are not required. Lane space is the only other requirement.

'It's something anybody can do,” said Cedar Rapids Jefferson Coach Virg Cerveny. 'But it's just like any other sport, to get good at it you have to put in a lot of work.”

Boys' and girls' squads in the Metro have averaged around 30 bowlers. Family and friends have helped increase the turnout for high school teams.

'I started bowling because of my family,” said Cedar Rapids Jefferson senior Victor Baccam, who brings an average of 218 into his final season. 'My cousins have been bowling since they were 8 or 9. And in middle school I wanted a hobby, so I started bowling with my cousins.”

The potential to bowl at the collegiate level entices some girls to join at the prep level. Across all divisions, the NCAA has 62 sponsored women's bowling teams. The NCAA does not sponsor men's bowling, but it is a club sport at all three of Iowa's major universities.

'People are beginning to see that there is a lot more to bowling than just rolling a ball and hitting pins,” said Cedar Rapids Kennedy sophomore Alyssa Wiedemeier. 'There is a lot more thought that goes into it.”

TEAMS TO WATCH

Boys

C.R. Jefferson - Jefferson graduated just one senior from a team that set the MVC record for highest team average in a season with 3,205.

Linn-Mar - The Lions need to replace four seniors from a team that made the state tournament last season.

Iowa City West - The Trojans finished fourth in the MVC Mississippi Division last year and nearly made the state tournament.

Girls

Waterloo West - The defending Class 2A state champions return all but one bowler from last year's championship team.

C.R. Jefferson - The J-Hawks return four from a team that finished eighth at the state tournament last season. Jefferson finished just 5-6 in MVC play, but won its regional tournament with a score of 2,744; an increase of 258 over their average match score.

C.R. Prairie - The Hawks finished fourth in Class 2A last season and return a solid group, including unanimous MVC first-team selection Rylee Blood.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Boys

Victor Baccam, C.R. Jefferson - The senior was a first-team MVC selection last season with a 218 average.

Bryan Cline, C.R. Washington - A first team MVC selection a year ago, the senior has the average (219) to make the state tournament.

Caleb Miller, C.R. Xavier - A state champ two years ago, Miller finished second in Class 1A last season behind a first-game score of 279.

Girls

Ashley Grady, C.R. Prairie - Grady finished 17th at the Class 2A meet last year as a freshman.

Rylea Bennet, C.R. Jefferson - The senior finished 14th at the state tournament and will bring a 184 average into the season.

Bre Smith, Marion - Smith finished fourth at the Class 1A state tournament last year, rolling a 433 and will pace the Indians this season.

- Matt Sulentic