ADAMS TWP — They attend four different schools in three different school districts and range in age from 14 to 17.

But Ed Kuhn, Hanna Schoentag, Amanda Cochran and Casey Foster have shared a common bond for three years now.

Bowling.

All four have been involved in the youth bowling program at Mars Lanes for at least the past six years. All four won championships in the Butler County USBC Youth Doubles Tournament held there recently.

And the foursome will form a team at the third annual Pennsylvania State USBC Youth Association Championships June 16-17 in Reading.

"Not many youth bowlers from around here go to that tournament," Mars Lanes owner Ruth Geller said. "It takes quite a commitment from their families.

"They have to pay the entry fee, make travel arrangements, accommodations, the whole deal. But these kids have tremendous parental support."

When they bowl together, the quartet goes by the team name Motley Crew and they wear a team shirt. Three of their parents — Terry Cochran, Connie Schoentag and Pattie Kuhn — became youth bowling instructors at Mars Lanes last summer.

The four families will camp together at Reading in June.

"We all just came to know each other through bowling here," Ed Kuhn said. "Hanna and I have bowled doubles together for a long time.

"Amanda is good friends with Hanna and started bowling tournaments with us. We got Casey last year when she was looking for someone to bowl in tournaments with."

Kuhn, 16, is a junior at Seneca Valley High School and has been in the Mars Lanes youth program since age 8. His average is 161 and his career high game is 278.

Schoentag, 14, is a freshman at Knoch High School and has been in the Mars program since age 7. Her average is 124 and her career high game is 193.

Cochran, 14, is a freshman at the Seneca Valley Intermediate School and has been in the program since age 8. Her average is 126 and she bowled her career-high game of 208 nine days ago.

Foster, 17, is a junior at Mars High School and has been in the program since age 8. Her average is 143 and her career-high game is 228.

"I've actually been bowling since I was 2," Foster said. "My mother used to work at Roblin Lanes and I'd go there and practice all the time."

None of these four compete in other sports. They've been involved in chorus, band, horseback riding, etc., but bowling is their sport of choice.

Each has either a box or a shelf at home filled with bowling trophies and medals accumulated over the years.

"I want to get my average over 150 and earn a scholarship one day," Cochran said of her bowling goals. "Sometimes I'll come here on Wednesday nights and practice while my mother bowls in her league."

Cochran and Schoentag teamed to win the scratch division of the Butler County USBC Youth Doubles, girls junior title this year. Schoentag rolled a 434 series and Cochran had a 432.

Schoentag also teamed with Kuhn to win the senior mixed, handicap division. She rolled a 462 actual series while Kuhn rolled an even 500.

Foster teamed with Chris Creeks to win the senior mixed, scratch division. Foster rolled a 423 series and Creeks had a 656.

"We bowl for fun at tournaments, but we're competitive, too," Schoentag said. "We haven't placed at a state tournament yet … We just want to do the best we can."

Kuhn practices every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with competing in the youth program each Saturday.

He's picked up 14 trophies and nine medals from various tournaments over the years.

"I just love the sport," he said. "My family moved here from North Carolina and my sister joined youth bowling, so I did. She left it after a couple of years and I've kept going."

There were 206 bowlers, ages 5 to 21, involved in the county youth doubles tournament this year.

"We have about 60 kids in our youth program at Mars and we always encourage them to bowl local tournaments," Geller said.

"I'm very proud of these (four) bowlers. They have bowled here for many years and I have watched them all become wonderful, polite and mature bowlers."