This year’s bowling team differs from past teams greatly; they do not yet have a set coach and will begin the season without one. This will make things difficult as the boys’ and girls’ team tries to focus on the task. But despite the major piece of a high school team missing, the teams are looking to make a push and have their best season of FHC bowling yet. 

The girls’ biggest goal this year is to start strong. Doing so means they have to beat Forest Hills Northern. 

“Our biggest rival is Forest Hills Northern,” senior Letizia Cumbo-Nacheli said. “The Northern vs. Central rivalry is the same across all sports, but in bowling, it is bigger because of our home lane. Eastbrook Lanes is also their home lane. We want to beat them to prove that we run Eastbrook Lanes, which is our home, not theirs.

Along with facing off against their rivals, both teams look forward to growing closer, especially if they have no coach to help guide them. Both teams are comprised of essentially brand-new athletes. 

“I am looking forward to bonding with all the new bowlers this season,” Cumbo-Nacheli said. ”We have a pretty much brand new girls varsity team, so it will be fun to bond with the girls and create new team chemistry.”

The boys’ team shares the same sentiments.

“We are looking stronger than ever with the new additions to the team and being able to compete with one another,” senior Charlie Afman said.

Bowling is a sport taken slightly less seriously than most, making rankings hazy or nonexistent. This applies to Michigan bowling—there is no official ranking. However, based on former results, bowling rankings can be projected. 

“I think that we would be probably around the fourth spot in the state,” senior captain Weston Baldwin said.

This season, the bowling team is looking to do something it has never done for girls or boys teams in FHC history.

“Our team’s goal this year is to win a tournament,” senior Luke Stiles said. “The school has never won a tournament in bowling.” 

Not only do they have a substantial team goal this year, but multiple players are looking to make a strike and knock out some of their personal goals along the way. Not only will these benefit themselves, but they will also help the team.

“My individual goal for the season is to break 200,” Cumbo-Nacheli said. “And win a medal during a tournament and qualify individually for states.”

Afman is more focused on form.

“To learn how to curve the ball down the line and get strikes every time,” Afman said.

Stiles is all about scoring.

“My individual goal this year is to average above 180 in a match and qualify for states,” Stiles said.

Baldwin also has things he wants to improve on.

“Average 180+, place in the top 10 at the conference tournament, make it to states, and improve my spare shot accuracy,” Baldwin said.