Published 11/17/23
The Warren Central bowling team has started their season and are looking to continue to build upon what was an impressive season last year. The team competed in their conference for the first time in years and finished the season with eight wins and only two losses.
Now, the Warriors have a chance to make it even better this year. With most of the core bowlers on the team back from last season, experience in the matches will be a big help throughout the season.
Junior Keith Owens has been bowling since he was 2 years old. His dad played a major role in his passion for bowling.
“My dad took me to one of his league nights,” Owens said. “I sat there in my baby carriage watching them, kind of fell in love with the game ever since.”
Experience is going to continue to be a factor in these Warrior bowling teams because they also have many younger players who will continue to grow and help the team.
One of these bowlers, sophomore Noah Hess, just started bowling last season, but he and some of his teammates were able to take big jumps in skill to be able to compete.
“For the longest time I would go bowling for my birthday parties and that just made me like it, and it was fun,” Hess said. “It was just something to do.”
The environment that has been created for the bowling team is positive as well, ensuring that students have a good time while competing at a high level. Part of this positive environment has come from coach Paul Willis, who teaches biology at the high school.
Willis has been coaching for two years now. His positive energy and relationship with the team makes the environment around the team great.
“I like getting to know the kids outside of school and interacting with them that way,” Willis said. ”Getting to see them succeed is always great.”
According to Willis, the team is still looking for new members to join. Owens said that bowling has given him an opportunity to meet new people.
“You meet a lot of people that you don’t think you ever would’ve met from a bunch of different backgrounds too by bowling,” Owens said.