LOWER BURRELL — All Freeport freshman Mark Livingston wanted to do was bowl for his high school.

And he's doing it quite well.

The Yellowjackets are a first-year program in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League (WIPBL) and Livingston is leading the North Section with a 206.07 average.

“I wasn't expecting to do anything this this,” Livingston said. “I'm pretty surprised.

“It has been motivating for me, though. I want to stay on top.”

Livingston, who has been bowling since fourth grade, joined the Saturday junior league at Wildlife Lanes with a few of his buddies four years ago. His average in that circuit last year was around 180.

When he began bowling, Livingston said his average “was something like 126 ... I wasn't very good.”

But practice makes perfect — almost.

Livingston bowled a 299 game in practice at Wildlife Lanes a few weeks ago. His high series is 726, which also happened earlier in the season.

“He bowls four days a week,” said Tom Livingston, Mark's father and Freeport bowling coach. “He works on his game all the time. He wants to get better.”

He and his friends wanted Freeport High School to field a bowling team as well.

Mark approached his parents with the idea when he was in eighth-grade and they went to work on it. The process took about four months.

Daniele Livingston, Mark's mother. met with Freeport's athletic director and principal to get the ball rolling, so to speak.

“They wanted to know about scholarship opportunities in bowling and how having a team would be beneficial to the students,” Mrs. Livingston said. “We looked into all of those things.

“The kids all bought their own (uniform) shirts and we ordered them.”

The team came up with the funding for the WPIBL fees through hosting a “Monster Match” bowling tournament at Wildlife Lanes last fall.

“We had a basket raffle and a lot of participation.We raised the money we needed,” Mrs. Livingston said.

All the team needed was a coach.

Despite having virtually no bowling experience himself, Tom Livingston filled that void.

“I was the only guy with the time availability to do it,” he said. “I'm a farmer by trade, so I have plenty of free time in the winter to do what's needed for the team.”

Freeport's boys are 5-4 in their initial season despite being led by freshmen and sophomores. Freshman Isaac Spencer has a 153 average and a high game of 246. Sophomore Seth Change has a 144 average and a high game of 225.

Freshman Blake Olson has a 143 average and a high game of 186.

“By the time we're seniors, we're hoping to be able to compete for the section championship,” Mark said.

“I wanted us to have a high school team because it increases the exposure for all of us,” added Livingston, who is hopeful of bowling in college someday.

Livingston's 206 average is four pins better than North section runner-up Jordan Reges of Butler. The next highest average by a freshman in the league is 175, held by North Allegheny's Dylan Scheidler.

Livingston will be bowling in the Pepsi State Championships this spring and the Junior Gold Tournament in Dallas, Texas, in July.

“I bowled in Junior Gold last year in Cleveland,” Livingston said. “I didn't do real well, but it was a good experience.”

Just like bowling on the Freeport High School team has been.

“We've got a daughter (Mackensie) in sixth grade, averaging about 130, who wants to be part of this high school team,” Coach Livingston said. “We hope it's around for a long time.”