Prairie girls’ bowling looks to continue record-breaking season

CEDAR RAPIDS - In their charge to the state tournament, the Cedar Rapids Prairie girls' bowling team has left opponents, pins and records in its wake.

The Hawks have toppled the girls' school team total pinfall record three times this season. The record now stands at 3,126, set Friday in a win against Waterloo West. That victory sealed the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississipppi Division title for Prairie.

'We've bonded really well together as a team,” said senior Sabrina Keiper. 'We get hyped up together and feed off of each other's energy.”

Only five times this season has an MVC girls' team broken the 3,000 total pinfall threshold. Prairie has hit the mark four times, with Waterloo East the only other team to reach that plateau.

'There are some bowlers that have bowled most of their lives and are just really starting to blossom,” said Prairie head coach Don Wilfong.

A couple of personal records have fallen this season, too. Keiper set a personal best and school girls' record with a roll of 278. She had nine strikes in a row, losing her bid for a perfect game in the 10th frame. Kaitlyn Early set her personal best with a 277 this season.

All of these broken records have helped contribute to the first MVC title for the Prairie girls' team. So what's their secret to success? It depends on who you ask.

'I like to eat Peanut M&M's before every meet,” said Early.

'I always keep my hair down when I bowl,” Keiper said.

'I just need to get warmed up a little bit,” said senior Rylee Blood. 'We only get four practice balls, and that's not usually enough for me, so I swing my ball a little before we start.”

Regardless of how each individual gets into the zone, they come together as a team before the meet starts.

'We always shout ‘3-2-1 Hawks' as a team before every meet,” said freshman Ashley Sundstrom.

Team chemistry has certainly played a role in the Hawks' success. Prairie has set the team record for a baker round twice this season, posting a 267 on Jan. 15 and again Friday.

'The internal competition and the desire to be on the varsity team has helped us be more competitive,” Wilfong said.

The competitive atmosphere has fostered a winning attitude for the Hawks. Now 11-0, Prairie heads into Tuesday's regionals in Marshalltown with the goal of a state tournament berth on its mind. Kennedy and Washington are at Lancer Lanes, Marion and Xavier at May City Bowl.

'All but one of the girls on the varsity team went to state last year and got that third-place trophy,” Wilfong said. 'They kind of liked that feeling and are looking to get to number one this year.”