By Blair Eckleberg, Staff Writer, The Banner, WRHS
If you listen to announcements, then unlike me, you knew there was a school bowling team. This team, established seven years ago, went to state, representing that blue and gold on February 23.
One of the school's only co-educational teams, bowling is a winter sport with a season from late October to February. There are seven members total that are from a local youth league or students from school. They even have team uniforms: a gold polo shirt!
Many schools have bowling teams. This year 19 participated at the state meet held at Chipper's Lanes in Broomfield. It was an all day affair and Wheat Ridge placed eighth out of the 19 teams at state.
A state meet works differently from a regular meet. At state Wheat Ridge played three sets of games, adding up to 15 games total. After the first set Wheat Ridge was in second place. In the end they were eighth over-all.
"Even though we didn't make it in the top four, the experience of being at state was amazing," said junior Abbey Williams.
Many schools have bowling teams. Wheat Ridge qualified by winning points based on an average of individual scored accumulated at each meet. There were six teams that went from the Jefferson County Conference. Wheat Ridge was fifth.
The team coach Jerry Fallert is no stranger in leading his team to state and placing well. Also coaching with Fallert is Dennis Willmore and Matt Hilliart.
"The coaches help the team by teaching the correct form, arm swing, timing. They are also really helpful in telling where to stand for different shots such as strikes or spares," says captain Tori Garibay.
At a regular meet the team bowls six games. For those meets, the team follows the Baker system. This is where five of the team members play two frames per game. This means that is one player bowls the first and sixth frames. Then the next team member would play the second and seventh frames. This way everyone has an equal part in the scoring.
Practice is every week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45 to 5:30. They are held at Brunzwick Zone on 49 th and Kipling, not that far from school.
There are actually three teams dubbed Strike, Spare and Hook. These three teams stand for the three different levels of the bowling team.
This year attendance and grades were very important to the team. If they have less than five people come to a meet, they have to take zeroes for two frames per game.
"It makes us lose a lot of points because that's two frames per fame out of six games," says Gariby.
Bowling has been a fun pastime for decades. The Wheat Ridge Bowling Team gets to enjoy it on a weekly basis and go to actual competitions. As it turns out, bowling is right up the alley for several Wheat Ridge students.