JA’s boys bowling squad is pictured from left, front row, Andrew Glass, Dominic Dellapina, Jackson Lane and Jackson McCoy; second row, Luke Walker, Levi Honigford, Matthew McMillen, John Jordan and Jon Santini; third row, head coach Rusty Walter, Jacob Schrock, Luke Honigford, Nathan Clark and assistant coach Matthew Honigford. (Photo submitted)
Members of the Lady Pioneer bowling team are from left, front row, Josie Campbell, Rose Marie Schaner and Cierra Clark; second row, Danielle Phipps, Lana Kirts, Jade Bay, Satavia Kempton, Jenise Jordan and Haley Henderson; back row, assistant coach Mike Walter, Kenlee Monnin, Karlie Gavula, Trisha Hall, Kadie Walter, Shea Huntington, Kennedi Peterson and head coach Cole Schrock. (Photo submitted)
Jonathan Alder has had strong boys and girls bowling teams for a number of years.
The 2019-20 campaign should be no exception to that history of success.
The boys are led by returning lettermen Luke Honigford (a two-time All-Ohio selection), Jacob Schrock (who earned all-state honors in 2016), Luke Walker, Nathan Clark, Jackson Lane and Levi Honigford.
The boys return as two-time Division II state runners-up (2018-2019) and have captured three consecutive district championships.
“We have great senior leadership on our team in Luke Honigford, Jacob Schrock and Luke Walker,” said head coach Rusty Walter. “The team enjoys competing and they love to bowl.
“We have great team chemistry and the boys have worked extremely hard on their games this past year.”
The Lady Pioneers have all five starters and two additional lettermen back from last season.
Veteran bowlers are Cierra Clark, Josie Campbell, Lana Kirts, Kadie Walter, Shea Huntington, Satavia Kempton and Jenise Jordan.
The Lady Pioneers competed in the Division II state tournament last year.
“The girls are all stronger and have worked extremely hard to improve this off- season,” said Walter. “They have all upgraded their equipment and should be greatly improved from last season.”
Newcomers to the boys team include John Jordan, Matt McMillen and Domic Dellappi.
“They will compete for some lane time on the varsity team,” said Walter.
Freshman Danielle Phipps is expected to make an impact as the girls’ season progresses.
Walter said he hopes the boys and girls junior varsity squads can continue to improve.
“We want our younger bowlers to push the varsity teams,” he said. “We would like to see all our teams compete for some early-season tournament titles.
“Overall, we want to continue to improve and gain confidence, especially with our underclassmen,” said Walter. “This season, we move up to D-I from D-II and our goals are the same.
“We want to win a difficult Central Buckeye Conference regular season, capture the conference tournament and defend our Central District championships,” he said.
Walter said the CBC is perhaps one of the top three or four bowling conferences in the state.
“Bellefontaine is always very good,” he said. “Benjamin Logan, Graham and the Springfield-area teams – Northwestern, Kenton Ridge and Shawnee – are all very solid.
“We feel that if we can can compete for a CBC championship, we can compete at the state level.”