IHSA boys and girls bowling teams are brand new at Naperville Central this year. The school is looking for potential student athletes to tryout for this winter sport.

In years past, Central offered a bowling club run by Brian Dunn, the new varsity boys bowling coach, who has loved playing the sport since age 5. He said he has been wanting Central to get a bowling team approved for many years ever since IHSA boys bowling was started in 2003.

“I want to try to give [students] the opportunity not just to have something of identity in school,” Dunn said, “[but] also a chance [for students] to get more money for [college], like an athletic scholarship, or a talent award.”

According to Steven Ondrus, a bowler since age 10 and now the varsity girls head bowling coach, they both proposed this team to Principal Bill Wiesbrook, who also wanted this to happen. The proposal for the bowling teams at Central was sent to the district last spring. The district responded and now both District 203 high schools have a bowling
team for IHSA competition.

At Central, the boys team will be coached by Dunn and Matt Zieman, a humanities teacher, and the girls team will be coached by Ondrus and Kristin Theisen, a special education teacher.

According to Ondrus and Dunn, both bowling teams will practice Monday through Thursday after school at Lisle Lanes. The season for the boys team will span from late October to late January. The girls season will start three weeks
later from early November to February. Each will compete at dual matches between another school during the week.

On Saturdays, the teams will attend invites against multiple schools. Each team is looking for 20 players for the JV and varsity teams, where five or six will compete at a time. Tryouts for the boys team will be held on Oct. 23. The girls team tryouts will be Nov. 13.

“It’s amazing how bowling is individual,” Dunn said. “At the high school level, it is based more around teams.” He explains it’s a unique experience where bowling is team oriented and collaboration based.

According to Dunn, typical practices will have focuses on particular skills such as spare shooting. He explains it will be more like one-on-one training in a group setting. 

Despite different levels of experience, Dunn said, “Come out. If you are willing to work, you can achieve whatever you want.” 

According to Ondrus, it is important for the athlete to have an interest in the sport, and improvement will follow.

“Give it a shot,” Ondrus said. “Even if you don’t bowl or have never bowled before, it is a great experience.”

After attending the informational meeting in August, senior Ariana Wilde, an experienced bowler, is set on joining. She likes how it’s a fun sport without much physical training needed while still being competitive.

“If interested, [students] should try out, even if right now they have no experience bowling,” Wilde said. “They shouldn’t be afraid to try new things.”

She notes the coaches are looking for student athletes who have a “can you do your best” attitude and being a “cheerleader for others.”