The Lady Monarch bowling team is pictured from left, front row, Elizabeth Cline, Morgan Thompson, Madison Strouse, Payton Darling and Hailey Lowe; back row, Kristen Thompson, Alyssa Beeching, Sophia Koren, Coryn Darling, Sarah Stooksbury and coach Mike Geer. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School’s boys bowling team is pictured from left, front row, Wyatt Deringer, Braidan McMahan, Ethan Lambert, Dawson Lewis and Jonathan Cusack; back row, coach Matt Strouse, Dale Barker, Chris Tompkins, Colin Sherwood, Allen Jolliff and Caeden Hamm. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School’s girls bowling program is continuing to grow.
“We’re up to 10 girls, so that will allow us to field a junior varsity team for the first time,” said Lady Monarch coach Mike Geer.
In the past, MHS has had boys varsity and JV teams and a varsity girls squad.
There have been some girls who have competed with the boys team in previous seasons.
The girls team is led by returning lettermen Alyssa Beeching, Madison Strouse, Hailey Lowe, Payton Darling and Sarah Stooksbury.
Those girls will compete in the majority of the 2021-22 varsity matches.
Girls who will take to the lanes during JV matches include Kristin Tompkins, Sophie Koren, Elizabeth Cline, Coryn Darling and Morgan Thompson.
“We’ve been able to add more girls to our program because some of our veteran bowlers have encouraged others to come out for the team,” said Geer. “Bowling is a fun sport in which to be involved.
“Word of mouth has also helped increase our numbers.”
The boys team is guided by Matt Strouse.
“I coached the girls last year,” Strouse said,” while Mike coached the boys.”
“When I coached the girls a year ago, my daughter Madison went to the state and placed 50-something,” he joked. “A couple of years ago as a freshman – when Mike coached the girls – she placed third.”
“It’s actually good for both teams that we switch off,” said Geer. “Coaches have different styles.”
Varsity lettermen for the Monarch boys are Johnathan Cusack, Chris Tompkins, Ethan Moeller, Dale Barker and Colin Sherwood.
Rounding out the boys program are JV bowlers Wyatt Deringer, Caeden Hanf, Ethan Lambert, Dawson Lewis, Braiden McMahan and Coy Nickelson.
Both Monarch varsity teams bowed out of the 2020-21 season at the district tournament level.
Strouse and Geer stated the goals for this winter are to qualify both to the Division I state tournament.
The state will be held in February.