Young bowlers will impact metro’s top teams

CEDAR RAPIDS — While many athletes will hit the lanes for their high school team for the first time this season, it's not the first taste of competition for many area bowlers.

Even the many freshmen lining the rosters of the Cedar Rapids Xavier and Jefferson lineups are well versed in competition against other bowlers. Through youth leagues in local bowling alleys, those interested in the sport get started from a young age.

'Since I was exposed to the game so early, I have had many years to perfect my game and know how to make adjustments wisely,' said Cedar Rapids Prairie's Rylee Blood.

Youth leagues, great coaching and strong competition have yielded some of the best teams and individuals in the state from the Metro area. Two area girls' teams and three boys' teams placed at state in 2014-15.

'This Metro and the outskirts is a strong bowling community,' said Jefferson assistant Mat Fowler. 'The kids get all the help they need and it just works really well in this community.'

Five boys and four girls finished in the top 10 in their respective classes last year.

'You can take a Friday major league or any league around here and see a lot of former local high school players,' said Jefferson head coach Virg Cervny. 'So it becomes part of them, the (Mississippi) Valley has that.'

Young bowlers will play a key role for many area teams this season. The Jefferson girls lost four of their starters from last season's team.

'We're just trying to teach them technique this year,' Cervny said. 'Technique goes a long way. We don't really care about the pins right now.'

Just one senior will lead the J-Hawks into competition in what looks to be a tough MVC battle on the lanes.

'My job is to cheer them up and give them a pep talk, even when they've bowled poorly,' said Jefferson's Hailey Kimble.

The Xavier boys will need their young bowlers to fill some big shoes this season. The Saints lost their top two bowlers from a state runner-up team and are looking to pick up the extra pins by committee.

'We're developing the guys now so that each one of them is just a little better than they were last year,' said Saints head coach Russ Camacho. 'That way we don't have to have just one guy replace them. We can do it as a team.'

TEAMS TO WATCH

Boys

Cedar Rapids Jefferson — The J-Hawks return Hunter Sturtz, Chaise Donner and Tyler Fowler, key competitors in the team's run to a second-place finish at the state tournament last season.

Cedar Rapids Xavier — The Saints lost Caleb Miller (third at state in 2015) and Brett Young (14th at state in 2015) and will need a strong showing from a young class to make another appearance at the state tournament.

Vinton-Shellsburg — The Vikings placed second in Class 1A last season and have four of their five athletes returning this season.

Girls

Cedar Rapids Prairie — The Prairie Hawks return four of their top five bowlers from last season, including Jade Klinefelter and Mikayla Hite, both of whom finished in the top 10 individually last season.

Linn-Mar — The Lions will look to make a run to the state tournament after falling short last season. New head coach Jeremy Moser inherits a team that finished 10-1 last year.

Iowa City West — The Women of Troy return an experienced team that will look to challenge the top teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

BOWLERS TO WATCH

Boys

Chaise Donner, C.R. Jefferson — The junior finished fifth at the state tournament last season and will look to make another strong run this year.

Hunter Sturtz, C.R. Jefferson — A unanimous MVC first-team selection last season, Sturtz will lead a strong Jefferson team in 2015-16.

Nick Stein, Vinton-Shellsburg — Stein tied for fifth at the Class 1A state tournament last season.

Girls

Rylee Blood, C.R. Prairie — Blood paced the Prairie Hawks last season and finished in the top 15 at the state tournament in 2014-15.

Taylor Berry, Vinton-Shellsburg — The Vikette sophomore took Class 1A by storm last season, finishing eighth at the state tournament.

Jade Klinefelter, C.R. Prairie — Klinefelter finished 6th at the state tournament with a 423 series.