For the ninth year in a row, the Le Mars girls bowling team qualified for the state tournament with their school-record performance on Monday at Sweet 16 Lanes.
Bulldog head coach Gary Brady says the successful results are from his team being committed to the program’s success.
The Bulldogs finished with a total score of 3,203 in 15 baker games to qualify for state. Coach Brady says it took everyone to put together a gaudy score like that one.
Bulldog sophomore Natalie Vanderloo had a great day individually as part of three Bulldogs who qualified for the individual tournament. She says they all have each other’s back when it comes to their performances in the baker games.
Vanderloo’s 659 total in a three-game series was the second-best total in the state qualifying meet. Coach Brady says her success has come from an important adjustment she has made this season.
Vanderloo says that adjustment came from improvements made to her hand placement.
The Bulldogs also qualified Bailey Gill who was third at the meet with a total of 645 and Emily Peters who placed seventh with a total of 569. The Bulldogs are more experienced than last season when they sent a good number of bowlers to state who had never been there. Coach Brady says that experience is going to make them more comfortable at the tournament this year.
Vanderloo says she is looking forward to the opportunity to come closer together as a team through the trip to Waterloo.
Coach Brady says it is important to get off to a strong start in both the team and individual tournaments. If they can do that, the Bulldogs will be just fine.
The state bowling tournament is held in Waterloo Iowa with the team tournament for the Bulldogs on Tuesday, February 21 and the individual tournament on Wednesday, February 22.
