Xavier bowling small, but mighty

CEDAR RAPIDS - It is not about recognition for the Xavier girls' bowling team.

The team consists of only eight players, all freshmen and sophomores. However, working with a small team has its advantages because the players and coaches get to work together on a closer, more personal level.

'It is a sport that isn't as popular and doesn't get much attention, but I find it completely OK,” sophomore Cheyanne Crane said. 'I find it good to be in a sport that not many people are in.”

Crane began bowling the summer before high school and now is in her second year with the Saints. When Xavier bowling is not in season, she still continues practicing to work on her skills. She recently qualified for the Pepsi Sectionals at May City Bowl. The competition will take place in February.

'Once I started, I loved it and wanted to keep improving,” Crane said. 'I really wanted to see what I was capable of doing in this sport.”

There have been growing pains this season. The Saints are 1-6 overall.

'Mainly, I just want to see how the kids are going to develop throughout the season,” Xavier Coach Russ Camacho said before the season started. 'We have a lot of younger kids and I'm looking forward to see how they are going to do.”