The Greenwood boys’ and girls’ bowling teams kicked off their season just two weeks ago, and have already seen some positive signs of progress and potential through five matches.
Unlike basketball and wrestling, the other two high school winter sports, the bowling season does not extend through the holiday break, but resumes afterward on January 8th against Ft. Smith Southside. Greenwood plays most of its matches at Bowling World lanes in Ft. Smith.
Player participation numbers are high, with over 30 combined team members, and the squads are managed by Head Coach Trey Holloway, assisted by Barbara Brown.
“This year's team is a lot more positive about what we are doing," said junior team captain Ry Bullington after this past Monday's men's victory over rival Alma. "We are more of an actual team than just a bunch of people getting together on a Tuesday and Thursday night.”
After starting their season 0-3, the Bulldogs have won two straight matches and are currently 2-3. They have also faced some tough competition, said Coach Holloway.
“We bowled a 2,400 series versus Ozark [for] our first win, and we bowled a 2,300 series against [Ft. Smith] Southside and we still got beat.”
The coach also mentioned some of his team leaders for the boys. “We are led by Ry Bullington, but we have some seniors [like] Cameron Adams, Josh Teeter, and Nolan Brasher. Josh Taylor has been bowling well, and Nick Yowell is a newcomer, a younger guy that's been bowling pretty well too," said Holloway.
As for the GHS ladies, they have a former individual state champion as their anchor. Team captain and senior Madison Zollicoffer won the title as a sophomore. No doubt she would like another crack at the crown to close out her high school career.
She had this to say about her teammates after a dominant performance against Alma. “We have a lot of new people this year that are going to try their best, and it’s nice to have them come forward to make a good team.”
Like the GHS boys, the Lady Bulldogs are currently 3-2 on the season.
Assistant coach Barbara Brown, who works mostly with the girls, had high praise for this year’s team. “Madison is my best bowler, [but] Mariah Hamilton is having a great year [too], and she is consistent.
“Alexandria Thompson is having a good season [as well], but she has even more room to grow. M.K. Tatum keeps improving every day, while Faith O’Mahony and Izabelle Andrews have also showed their potential.”
Members of both teams will spend some of their Christmas break honing their skills at one of the two Ft. Smith bowling establishments in preparation for the second half of their season in 2019.