Bowlers head to first sectional tournament
Danielle Blocker
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Sports
The sectional-bound St. Ambrose bowling team didn't throw the season into the gutter. The season will soon be coming to an end, but not quite yet. The team has qualified for sectionals in Las Vegas.
The 2009-2010 season marked the first bowling season at Ambrose. It's a year round sport, so both the men's and the women's teams started around Labor Day. The tournaments are now over and both the men and the women have qualified for sectionals.
"We learned a lot for being a first-year program, and towards the end of the year we knew what to expect and how to do what we know how to, " Sam Peterlin, a freshman on the men's bowling team, said. "It showed fairly well the last two to three tournaments."
Currently the men's team is ranked 48th in the nation. The women are ranked 34th. Individually Sam Peterlin is ranked 40th in Rookie of the Year standings, averaging 193.3. Bryan Thompson is currently ranked 49th in the rookie standings, averaging 190.3. The successful season has them feeling confident heading into the next meet.
Sectionals are held in the middle of March. The United States Bowling Congress decides on where each qualifying team is sent for sectionals based on different criteria. Teams are picked to go to four different locations: Las Vegas, Peoria, Ill., Tennessee and Pennsylvania. On Feb. 25, the St. Ambrose team was informed that they would be going to Las Vegas.
The four different sectional sites hold 16 teams each, equaling a grand total of 64 teams competing. At sectionals, the team roster consists of eight people, but only five of the eight actually bowl. It follows the Baker format, so each bowler gets two frames. It's a team effort and whichever team gets the most pins wins. So, if one person doesn't play their best it reflects on the whole team.
After sectionals hopefully the Ambrose team will continue on to nationals. Nationals will be held in Texas in mid-April.
"We have a team that is good enough to advance, "said Peterlin. "I believe that we are underrated in the rankings, ending the year in 47th, but we should move up after this week end and will turn heads come sectional time if we all bowl the way we know how to."
With the first year under this team's belt, next season should be even more of a strike. But with sectionals right around the corner, this team isn't looking too far forward. After all, it's not over yet.
The 2009-2010 season marked the first bowling season at Ambrose. It's a year round sport, so both the men's and the women's teams started around Labor Day. The tournaments are now over and both the men and the women have qualified for sectionals.
"We learned a lot for being a first-year program, and towards the end of the year we knew what to expect and how to do what we know how to, " Sam Peterlin, a freshman on the men's bowling team, said. "It showed fairly well the last two to three tournaments."
Currently the men's team is ranked 48th in the nation. The women are ranked 34th. Individually Sam Peterlin is ranked 40th in Rookie of the Year standings, averaging 193.3. Bryan Thompson is currently ranked 49th in the rookie standings, averaging 190.3. The successful season has them feeling confident heading into the next meet.
Sectionals are held in the middle of March. The United States Bowling Congress decides on where each qualifying team is sent for sectionals based on different criteria. Teams are picked to go to four different locations: Las Vegas, Peoria, Ill., Tennessee and Pennsylvania. On Feb. 25, the St. Ambrose team was informed that they would be going to Las Vegas.
The four different sectional sites hold 16 teams each, equaling a grand total of 64 teams competing. At sectionals, the team roster consists of eight people, but only five of the eight actually bowl. It follows the Baker format, so each bowler gets two frames. It's a team effort and whichever team gets the most pins wins. So, if one person doesn't play their best it reflects on the whole team.
After sectionals hopefully the Ambrose team will continue on to nationals. Nationals will be held in Texas in mid-April.
"We have a team that is good enough to advance, "said Peterlin. "I believe that we are underrated in the rankings, ending the year in 47th, but we should move up after this week end and will turn heads come sectional time if we all bowl the way we know how to."
With the first year under this team's belt, next season should be even more of a strike. But with sectionals right around the corner, this team isn't looking too far forward. After all, it's not over yet.
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