BUTLER TWP — When Butler High School's girls bowling team was in action last week, seniors Reegan Malis and Rachael Blose rolled identical 551 series.

Figures.

The pair have been close in many ways, including friendship, average and as teammates.

“We've been bowling together since we were 4,” Malis said. “From youth bowling all the way up, that's how we've become such good friends.”

And competitors.

The Golden Tornado girls always fill a complete lineup for their WPIBL matches. The opposition, often times, does not do the same. But Malis and Blose have each other.

“We're always pushing each other on the scoresheet,” Blose said. “We compete against each other every day, whether it's practice or in a match.”

They even competed for the highest average in the WPIBL's North Section this season. Blose won out with a 180.76, needing to roll a 618 series Friday to edge Malis by less than half a pin.

Malis rolled a 632 series Friday to finish at 180.33. Shaler's Lexi Pilyih had a 177.47.

“Reegan has been the anchor in our lineup for as long as she's been here,” Butler bowling coach Bob Cupp said. “She leveled off a bit recently and I put Rachael in that anchor spot temporarily ... no particular reason, maybe to light a fire under Reegan or something.

“They are very competitive with each other. As a coach, I'll use that. Those two benefit each other that way. Our section has a high-average award and an MVP. I'd love to see both of them awarded this year.”

Blose emphasized that Malis and her “know how to be great competitors on the lanes and great friends off the lanes.”

Malis agreed.

“I came close to having the high average in our section last year, but lost out to Bella (Pilyih) of Shaler,” she said. “I was happy for her because she was a senior and I knew I'd have another chance at it this year.

“Now Rachael is one of the girls I'm battling with in that regard. If I don't get it, I hope she does. She's having a great year and she's earned it,” Malis added, prior to Friday's decisive set.

Both girls have earned the opportunity to move on to collegiate bowling and they're taking advantage of it.

Malis is headed to Penn State Behrend, which has a fourth-year bowling team that qualified for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament for the first time last year. That event was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malis also considered West Texas A&M, Mount St. Mary and a school in Wisconsin before choosing Behrend.

“It's closer to home,” Malis said. “Bella will be a teammate of mine up there. It will be nice bowling with her instead of against her.”

Blose is heading for D'Youville College, a Division II school in Buffalo, N.Y. She also considered Shepherd University in West Virginia.

D'Youville's bowling team is in its second season.

“The coach there (Susan Jeziorski) is best friends with pro bowler Liz Johnson, who comes and works with the team a couple of times,” Blose said. “I'm pretty excited about that.”

Malis and Blose become the sixth and seventh Butler female bowlers to move on to collegiate competition in Cupp's eight years as coach.

“I'm grateful to the girls who came before us,” Blose said. “When college recruiters see you bowl for Butler, that name carries some weight to it.”

Cupp said all of the girls on Butler's team help each other when it comes to adapting to lane conditions.

“It's been great to see,” the coach said. “They are always communicating with each other that way.

“(Another senior) Lauren Bash is going to Saint Vincent and is hoping for a walk-in opportunity with the bowling team there. That Saint Vincent program has really taken off.”

Malis and Blose were introduced to bowling in different ways.

“Everyone in my family bowls,” Malis said. “It's pretty much our family sport.”

Neither of Blose's parents bowl, though her older sister, Serina, graduated from Butler in 2013 and was on the school's first bowling team. Her grandmother introduced her to youth bowling.

“I used to tag along and watch Serina bowl for the high school team,” Blose said. “I couldn't wait to do the same thing.”