BUTLER TWP — Just six years ago, there wasn't a high school in Butler County that offered a bowling team.

Now, there's four.

Karns City started the trend five years ago and joined the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League the following season.

Mars, Butler and most recently Knoch have followed suit.

The amount of strikes, spares and gutter balls range from team to team, but they all have one goal in common: Let the good times roll.

“We've had a great time,” said Karns City coach Denny Morrow. “This year, we're kind of rebuilding, but we're having fun. Where else can you bowl three games for free and get out of school early, too?

“The kids are upbeat when they go to a match. They're excited, just like any other sport,” Morrow added. “They want to do well and can get kind of upset when they don't.”

The Butler girls team fared extremely well last year, placing second in the state in the program's second year of existence. In its inaugural season, the Butler girls took sixth.

“Hopefully, they'll be able to compete again this year in the state,” said Butler coach William Fay. “You can only go one more step.”

Brea Suchonic, Nicole Balk and Autumn Hepler all tallied a 600-plus series in last year's state qualifying round and all three return this year.

Another area bowler to roll among the state's elite was Knoch's Kevin Hindman. He finished third individually in the program's first season.

“He's always had the drive and wants to get better,” said Knoch coach Tyler Hawk of Hindman. “Talking to him last year, he felt like he could win it all and that just motivates him to try harder.”

Mars is one of the elder programs in the area with four years of experience. However, the Planets numbers are down this season and, unlike last year, they don't have a girls team.

“This year, we're hurting. I'm not sure why,” Mars coach Dave Greene said. “We're a young team that doesn't have a lot of experience, so we try to have a good time. ... That's all you can do.”

It's a quality each team shares.

Fay enjoys his bowlers, along with the environment they provide at each match.

“The kids are great, fabulous,” said the Butler coach. “It's fantastic with the support we get from the families and how well the kids get along.”

Hawk tries to make sure his team appreciates its time on the lanes, rather than make it a tedious grind.

“I like to keep it light during practice. I think bowling is a sport where you've got to have fun with it,” the Knoch coach explained. “If you take it too seriously, you're not going to do well.”

When competition rolls around, the attitude takes a slight shift.

“I tell them to bear down,” said Hawk. “They can still have fun with it, but make good shots.”

Sometimes, that's easier said than done. But every team's bowlers strive for improvement.

“Most of them are very willing to learn and do what they're told,” said Greene. “They're a good bunch of kids.

“I enjoy the coaching part of it,” Greene added. “It's fun. If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it.”

Fay believes the key to finding success on the lanes can be summed up in one word.

“Dedication,” he said. “You've got to practice.”

Not all practice is created equal, though, which is where dedication plays a big role.

Morrow knows each bowler must try to maximize the quality of practice time, not just quantity. Repeating bad habits won't help the pins fall.

“Practice just makes permanent, it doesn't make perfect,” said the Karns City coach. “We start with technique, footwork and follow through. It's the basics of bowling, because a lot of the kids out here haven't bowled a lot.”

Some of Karns City's top bowlers include Patrick Phillips, Alex Kinkela and Tyler Martin for the boys, while the girls are led by Nikki Ferris and Kristen Hepler.

Knoch's Erica Johns was a regional qualifier last year and returns for the Knights.

Chris Wesley was the Planets' top performer in their first contest this year.

Jacob Cookson (627), Brayden Troyan (600), Brandt Fleming (548) and Cody Rosenbauer (526) all exceeded a 500 series in Butler's first match, a 7-0 win over New Castle.

“There isn't one kid that can't throw a 200 game,” said Fay, who admires each of the Tornado's bowlers — whether it's boy or girl, varsity or JV. “All four of my teams, I just have so much respect for them that I don't have words for it.”