Girls' Bowling Team Aims for State Berth

In the five years that bowling has been a sanctioned varsity sports, the Waukee Warriors have sent one bowler to state.

This year the Warriors hope to improve upon that, as well as better last year's 8-3 record by the Waukee girls' bowling team.

Head coach Chris Roberts has been at the helm since the program was sanctioned as a varsity sport five years ago. He says this team should improve on the record from a year ago.

"I don't see us dropping off from where we were last year," Roberts said. "If anything, I see us being better than what we were last year."

One reason why Roberts is so confident with this year's team is Shelby Klumpers.

Klumpers has a bowling lineage. Her dad bowled in college and her brother currently bowls at Arizona State. The girls' program has only sent one bowler to state in its four years of existence; that was Sam Tonelli in the inaugural year of 2007-08.

Klumpers is seeking to be the second Warrior to bowl at state.

"Shelby is a talented bowler, she's very skilled, and when she's focused she's just a very, very good bowler," said Roberts.

As far as team goals for the Warriors, it's the same as previous seasons.

"We would like to compete well in our dual meets and hopefully win conference," said Roberts. "We'd like to win our district meet and hopefully go to state for the first time ever; those are kind of our goals every season."

The Warriors will open their season today at Val Lanes against Dowling Catholic.

Boys' Bowling Squad Looks for Win After Losing Season

Tim Eischen is entering his second season as head coach of the Waukee boys' bowling team, and he's brutally honest when describing his expectations this season. 

"We lost four seniors last year that were our top bowlers," said Eischen. "Hopefully we continue to get better, but I think we're probably going to struggle a little bit."

Last season was constant struggle for the Warriors, who finished winless in 10 meets. Eischen said his boys need to do a better job at being consistent if they want to achieve any success.

"The biggest thing we have to work on right now is just consistency and picking up our spares," said Roberts.

According to Eischen the one bowler doing the best of being consistent is freshman Nathan Wanned.

"Right now the most consistent kid that I have is freshman Nathan Wanned," said Eischen. "Right now he has the most potential for the season. He throws the best ball and he's the most consistent."

There are other positives to speak of in the program. Last season, only eight kids were out; that increased to 20 kids this season.

With more bowlers competing, comes a larger talent pool from which to field a varsity team, which could directly lead to victories.

"Our main goal is to do a better job of picking up our frames," said Eischen. "And if we do that, we can win a couple of those close meets that we didn't win last year."

The boys will start their season today, alongside the girls' team, at Val Lanes against Dowling Catholic.