Prairie bowlers have high hopes again this season

CEDAR RAPIDS — Bowling is a sport of highs and lows, testing the mental toughness of all athletes.

“You need to be confident in yourself,” Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Teagan Merta said, describing bowling as “90 percent mental, 10 percent physical.”

Despite the complexity of the sport, many bowlers find a strong love for the game.

“I find it satisfying,” Merta said. “I like the competitive side of it and there are so many people you get to meet.”

With 22 boys and 18 girls, Prairie bowling is in the midst of its 12th sanctioned season. Coached by Don Willfong, Dan Grady and Tracy Venditti, the bowlers of College Community have a history of success.

Willfong has been an integral part of the bowling program at Prairie, which has produced several colligate athletes and a plethora of outstanding bowlers.

With his 20 years of experience, Willfong has helped develop a program that transforms players of any background experience.

“I love watching the reactions of the kids,” Willfong said.

Willfong’s abilities to coach speaks for itself with the many successful athletes he has coached in the past and present.

Merta finished second at last week’s Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Divisional tournament. He is committed to bowl at Mount Mercy University next year.

“As a team, we’ve been pretty consistent,” Merta said.

The program has focused on not only producing talented athletes, but also individuals prepared for what comes after high school.

“It has taught me good leadership skills and how to communicate well with others,” Merta said.

Another senior leader, Jakob Vavra, has recognized the importance of his teammates.

“If you’re down, you’re teammates help pick you up,” Vavra said.

Prairie has no shortage of athletes with a competitive boys’ and girls’ team composed of great teammates.

“We are one team, boys and girls,” said Venditti, who focuses on the girls’ team.

Junior Anissa Droessler was last week’s MVC Mississippi girls’ champion at the meet at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center.

Droessler has been bowling competitively since the age of 8 and said her team is like a second family.

“We bring each other up when we’re down,” Droessler said. “We’re very tightly knit.”

The team unity is transparent for all to see, even among the coaches.

“We coach as a team,” Venditti said.

The trio of mentors use their different perspectives to reach their common goal of aiding the athletes.

“I am trying to instill the passion I have in them,” Grady said.

With the sport continuing to grow, Venditti said, “I firmly believe that kids are the future of the game.”

He contributes the high school athletes’ love and commitment as the reason for the growth.

“The kids matter,” Venditti said.

Both girls’ and boys’ teams are preparing for the road to state, working hard to ensure another year of success.

“The goal is always state,” Grady said. “Prairie sports are about winning and that’s what we want to do.”