'The goal is always to get to state': Ashland girls bowling team has high hopes
After getting a taste of its first appearance at the state tournament, the Ashland High School girls bowling team would like nothing more than to make it back-to-back seasons ending the season in Columbus.
But the Arrows know it's going to take a lot of hard work and improvement throughout the season in order to do that and improve on last season's seventh-place finish at the state.
Ashland opens up play in Ohio's capital city this coming weekend at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl for the Kick-Off Tournament.
And the Arrows have been diligently putting in the much-needed hours of practice to get their season started.
"It took us this last two weeks to get back into our routine again but they're getting a handle on it," said veteran Ashland coach Michele Baker. "The goal is always to get to state but in our division, in sectionals, you take half the field but once you get to the district only one team goes to state, so that's always a stressful time to try and get that first place spot at the district."
Having lost Kelsey Baker, Emma Barger and Lexi Kuzawa to graduation, Ashland returns seniors Makayla Dreibelbis and MacKenzie Kaufman, junior Jada Baker, and sophomores Aubrie Cooke, Haley Rowe and Amelia Brown from last year's squad to go with sophomore Mallorie Kohler and freshman Maryann Rush.
Ashland is down on numbers this year and will not suit up a junior varsity team.
Dreibelbis will serve as the team's captain and Jada Baker will be the squad's co-captain.
"Makayla and Jada will be the top bowlers like last year," coach Baker said. "They both get along really well together so they can keep the other girls in line, and they help them out a lot if I'm not busy. They step in and help out each other. MacKenzie did miss last year so this will be her third year.
"Haley, Aubrie, Amelia, and Malorie have all been on the team since their freshman year, and Haley is our lone lefty on the team and she wants to win so badly. Aubrie is a solid spare shooter and is dependable. And Mallorie and Maryann have come a long way in just a year."
The Ohio Cardinal Conference, which Ashland has dominated and won the past three seasons, has grown since last season.
"We've added New Philadelphia and West Holmes this season so the conference is getting bigger, it's growing, and that's nice," coach Baker said. "It's great to have more competition. And our other goal is always to win the OCC."
Ashland's first home match at Luray Lanes will be Nov. 30 against OCC rival Lexington.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Makayla Dreibelbis, MacKenzie Kaufman to lead Ashland girls bowling
