Witt Talks About The Success Of The Oskaloosa Bowling Teams
Oskaloosa Indians
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The bowling season may be over now for the Oskaloosa Girls and Boys Bowling teams, but there is little not to be proud of.
The Oskaloosa boys team finished with a record of 27-5 in 12 matches, averaging 2919.4 pins, and an individual game average of 198.4.
Jaidyn Barnes and Colton Stout are the two seniors who have bowled their final games for the Indians.
The Oskaloosa girls team finished with a 21-10 record, also in 12 matches. They averaged 2079.3 pins, with an individual game average of 137.3.
Maliyah Martin and Andrea Mitterer are the graduating seniors from the team.
In total, 30 students went out for bowling this past year. “That grew tremendously over the last couple of years,” says Witt.
Even with all the success this season, the Indians didn’t quite reach their goal of making the state tournament, and not just a single bowler individual this time, like last year when Dylan VanWyk came home state champion.
Head coach Tony Witt said that dream came to an end in the qualifying meet held in Ottumwa. “It’s been a great season on both sides. Couldn’t ask for much better. The teams were gelling together, and they were bowling good at the right time of the year, and we just came up a little short.”
With the years of success, the bowling teams have begun to develop a following of fans who head out to Mahaska Bowl each time the Indians are hosting. “It’s pretty awesome to see everybody coming out for it and the recognition that the bowlers are getting outside of the bowling alley.”
Jared Smith a Junior for OHS had a perfect game this season, bowling a 300 in competition. Smith also rolled a near perfect game, coming up one pin short at 299.
Senior Colton Stout also rolled a 299 game this season in competition.
“It was a good year for the kids,” added Witt. “I have to give a lot of credit to the kids because they came out and did a lot of extra practice on the lanes. So they put the time in. That was nice to see out there.”
“Dylan VanWyk was one of their biggest cheerleaders. He was behind them because he knows that it takes a team for them to bowl well for us to be able to qualify as a team. He was there behind them, helping them the whole entire way.”
VanWyk was last year’s individual state champion for Oskaloosa. “It’s more gratifying for him for the whole team. And that’s what he wanted for this year, was for the whole team to go and experience that also,” added Witt.
On the girls team, Witt gave some props to Junior bowler Ava VandeWall. VandeWall was in her first year of bowling for the Indians. “She ended up averaging 125 and probably was my most improved bowler over the season. She probably went up 25 pins from the beginning of the season to the end.”
“It’s nice to see those new kids come in and be that excited over it [bowling],” Witt.
“There is a bright future for Osky Bowling on the girls and boys side,” added Witt.
