Ready to roll
Separate lanes. No junior varsity. No spectators. Declining rosters.
Welcome to the Western Pa. Interscholastic Bowling League, COVID-19 style.
WPIBL play is scheduled to begin play Dec. 9. Butler is slated to travel to Shaler that day.
Well, maybe.
“Shaler is one of six teams in the league not practicing right now,” Butler coach and WPIBL vice president Bob Cupp said. “I'm not sure about the status of that match.”
Freeport is also one of the teams not practicing yet. Mars opted out of this season and hopes to return next year. Knoch doesn't have a team for a second straight year.
While Freeport coach Tom Livingston expects the Yellowjackets will be able to start the season close to on time, the coaches have had little practice time with the bowlers.
“We got in one or two practices before our official practice sessions were shut down,” Livingston said. “The kids have been able to unofficially practice on their own.
“A lot of youth bowling tournaments have been canceled this year, so bowlers haven't been able to compete as much as they would have liked, entering the high school season.”
Seneca Valley has no female bowlers and only six boys on the squad.
“Our home house is Belmont Lanes (in Butler) and we lost a few kids because of that drive,” Raiders coach Josh Sullivan said. “Others dropped off because of COVID.
“The nice thing about bowling is you can stress singles. Advance to the regional or state tournament in singles. That always works on the resume'.”
Among this year's WPIBL rules are:
- Teams may use up to eight male and eight female bowlers in a match this season. Junior varsity matches will not take place.
- The two teams will bowl on their own lanes, but the lanes will be next to each other. Two vacant lanes will separate the boys match from the girls match.
- Teams will switch pairs of lanes between games.
- Equipment will not be shared. Each team must wash hands and sanitize upon entry into the bowling house.
- No high fives or handshakes will take place.
- No spectators will be allowed, at least for the month of December.
“That will be different for us because we always get tremendous support from the public,” Cupp said. “Our bowlers have fed off the energy of those people.
“Now the team will have to create its own energy. There will be a different feel to the season.”
For Butler, the goals are the same.Win.“Our boys team has no seniors, so we are really young,” Cupp said. “But we have some talented bowlers who are going to get better as they progress.”Rocco Rice, a sophomore, averaged around 190 as a freshman and figures to be the anchor for the Golden Tornado. Sophomores Luke Keene (175), Eric Devore (173) and Marty Imhof (173), along with junior Brock Hepler (174) round out a solid starting five.Sophomores Zachary Kniess and Joe Panian provide depth.Butler's girls are anchored by three returning senior starters in Reegan Malis (178), Rachel Blose (175) and Lauren Bash (150's), along with junior Madison Weiland. Harley Kriess, a junior, and sophomore Natalie Coughenour will compete for starting spots as will freshman Kelsee McConnell, who averages between 165 and 170.Grace Blank, a senior who has only been bowling a couple of years, is making strides as well.“Grace is pushing for a spot in the starting five,” Cupp said. “Our girls are very hungry as a team. They're ready to get after it.”
While Seneca Valley lacks numbers, it does have a standout bowler in Jason Hartenstein. He averaged between 190 and 200 a year ago.“He's competed in Pittsburgh travel tournaments and really knows the game,” Sullivan said. “Jason can read lane conditions and he knows what his ball is doing.“He's so easy to coach. We give him a little input and he runs with it. And the feedback we get from him while he's bowling is phenomenal.”
Freeport has a number of standout bowlers. On the boys side, senior Mark Livingston averaged 216 a year ago and placed fourth at regionals. The state tournament was canceled last spring due to COVID-19.Fellow seniors Isaac Spencer (190), Ashton Guay (174) and Blake Olson (170) give the Freeport boys plenty of firepower.“This is a senior-dominated group and we haven't won our section yet. That has to be the goal this year,” Coach Livingston said.“Standout sophomore Julia Cummings (195) anchors the girls side for the Yellowjackets. Senior Amber Cepec (150's) returns and freshman Mackensie Livingston, who averaged 170 in youth leagues, will provide an immediate boost.“Once we get going, we should be pretty solid,” Coach Livingston said.While Cupp admitted youth bowling numbers are down in general, the WPIBL remains a strong circuit.“With all that's been going on with the virus, we've still got 50 teams,” he said. “That's pretty good.”
