This story is part of The Columbian’s High School Winter Sports 2017-18 Preview, available in the Sunday, Dec. 17 print edition.
Why is high school bowling in Southwest Washington so good?
Like the pocket between the head pin and its neighbor, Clark County is a sweet spot for bowlers to strike.
From Vancouver to Hazel Dell to Battle Ground, the communities are the right size for the local bowling alley to be popular with young families. Yet, the area is large enough for aspiring bowlers to find leagues, coaching and top-notch equipment.
“In the small towns, it’s all about the big team sports,” said Hudson’s Bay coach Pam Brisby. “Kids who don’t fit into that, this gives them somewhere to go. We’re large enough that those girls have somewhere to go.”
Brisby has coached since girls bowling arrived in Clark County as a WIAA-sanctioned sport in 2007. Since then, local teams have won seven state championships. Individuals have won five state titles and finished runner-up five times.
Last season was one of the best. Led by individual champ Kerissa Andersen, Evergreen won the Class 3A state title. Hudson’s Bay, behind runner-up Reagan Lorey, placed second.
In having bowled competitively since she was 9, Andersen is typical of the area’s top bowlers. Local bowling centers such as Allen’s Crosley Lanes, Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes, Big Al’s and Tiger Bowl host junior leagues for adolescent bowlers.
“The number of kids who are bowling in league has gone up so much,” said Julie Pagel, who has coached Fort Vancouver for five years. “There were times when we struggled to field a varsity team. Now we have 36 kids, which is crazy.”
For the best bowlers, there are incentives beyond competition and camaraderie. Some colleges, mainly small schools in the Midwest and East, offer bowling as a scholarship sport.
Wylicia Faley, a state champ for Battle Ground in 2012 and 2014, went on to bowl for Midland University in Nebraska. Shannon Bliquez (Evergreen) is a freshman on the Maryville University bowling team in St. Louis. Bailey Peters (Fort Vancouver) competes for Wilmington University in Delaware.
“Now that there’s scholarship money for colleges, I think it’s really bringing up the game for everybody,” Evergreen coach Robyn Bailey said. “Look at what the team scores were when we started to what they are now. Sometimes, it can be double. Some of these girls carry 200 averages.”
But there has always been an element of high school bowling that welcomes everyone, regardless of skill. There are crazy cheers, silly props and a club-like atmosphere.
“We all get along really well with each other,” said Andersen, the defending state champ from Evergreen. “We don’t let drama get between us. We have pizza parties, a tie-dye shirt party. It’s all fun.”
That camaraderie extends between Clark County teams each year at the state championships near Tacoma.
“When Battle Ground won state, Evergreen was rooting them on,” said Bailey. “Even though we compete against each other, there’s that camaraderie you can’t get rid of. That’s kind of the bowling family.”
Bowlers to watch
Kerissa Andersen, Evergreen: Returning 3A state champion and All-Region bowler of the year. Her 198.3 average over six games led Plainsmen to state title.
Madi Bash, Prairie: The senior, who was first-team all-league last season, rolled 204-205 on Dec. 1.
Jessica Dufrain, Evergreen: The senior placed eighth at the 3A state tournament last season. Has a high game of 247 this season.
Reagan Lorey, Hudson’s Bay: The senior placed second at 3A state championships with 196 average over six games. Led Eagles to second place in state.
Madison Mollahan, Columbia River: The senior is returning 2A GSHL bowler of the year. Finished ninth at state last season as Chieftains placed third as team.
Tiffany Tucker, Skyview: The senior placed third at 4A district tournament last year, qualifying for state.
Key dates
Jan. 26, District Extravaganza: High school bowling takes over Allen’s Crosley Lanes in Vancouver for the 2A, 3A and 4A district tournaments.
Feb. 1-3, State Tournament: It’s a three-day strike-fest at Narrows Bowl in University Place. 1A/2A individual competition is Day One. 2A baker games and 3A, 4A individual competition is Day Two. 3A, 4A baker games round out Day Three.
