The Big Lake-Becker varsity bowling team will venture into state tournament play Dec. 5 in Inver Grove Heights after having won their conference championship tournament this past week.

 

The bowlers, who finished second  in the Wright County Conference, surprised favorites Rogers and Monticello to advance to the title match, which they won over STMA.  Other teams in the conference were Elk River and Buffalo.

 

They will join anywheres from 36 to 48 teams in the state tournament, based on qualifying at various conference tournaments.

 

Members of the varsity team include Cpt. Megan Archambault, Grade 12; Mitchel Hook, 12; Lily Stone, 8; Scott Nielsen, 9; Maria Yurkew, 12; and Hailey Foss, 10. They are coached by Larry Hill.

 

Hook and Nielsen were named to the all-conference team for their work.

 

High school bowling contests are a composite score of their top five players, called The Baker System, each of whom rolls two frames. The highest team score at the end of the game gives them the victory. 

 

Their conference season consists  of a three-team competition weekly, in which Big Lake would bowl against the other two opponents. Winner of the best three of five games is the winner of that match. At the end of the regular season, they had a 13-7 record.

 

 At the state tournament, the team will enter pool play, bowling two games per match. Top teams will then enter match play, continuing to contend for a state title.

 

Hook, the senior, takes his game very seriously. He has bowled for a number of years and hits the lanes by summer and enters as many tournaments as possible.

 

He sports a 210 average to lead the team.

 

Nielsen, Foss and Yurkew hold down 180 averages; Archambault has a 170 average.

 

Coach Hill reports his athletes do a series of fitness exercises, including running, to get ready for the lanes. They began their season with practices in August then started conference competition in early September.

 

“Spare shooting,” Coach Hill emphasizes. “That’s what will win most matches.” Given their lofty game scoring averages, the student-athletes are pretty good at it.

 

“Every pin counts,” said Cpt. Megan Archambault.

 

Returning players from last year include Nielsen, Archambault, Yurkew, Foss, Hook and Eli Flicker.

 

Flicker and his junior varsity teammates nearly won their conference tournament, too, finishing second. Members of that team include Brenden DeValk, Grade 8; Tanner Palmer, 8; Logan Hook, 8; Devon Ages, 11; and Mitchel Reasoner, 7. They are coached by Billy Salleterman.