High school athletic arenas nowadays include overlooked and underreported “orphan sports,” meaning just about anything other than football or basketball.
Though Wayland has a solid tradition in softball, sports such as cross-country, golf, track, tennis, soccer, wrestling, competitive cheer, ice hockey, volleyball and swimming often seem reserved for notice only by parents or close friends of the participants.
Yet one orphan sport in Wayland and Hopkins seems poised to break out of the mold and demand wider attention because of huge and sudden success — girls’ and boys’ bowling.
Developments from the past weekend presented a huge leap forward, as Lady Wildcat sophomore Sydney Urben was runner-up in the Division 2 individual state tournament. Meanwhile, Hopkins freshman Brenden Gossman qualified for state and he and his teammates checked in 12th in the Division 3 state team tournament.
Bowling has exploded onto the local sports scene this year.
The Wayland girls were ranked fifth in the final regular season Division 2 state ratings, they were co-champions in the O-K Gold/Green Conference and they went an impressive 16-1 in overall dual matches.
Girls’ coach Bill Holbrook took over the program three years ago and since then has used his own expertise, personal style and
carnival barking promotions to bring bowling into the consciousness of Wayland sports fans. In just his third year, he has guided the Lady Wildcats to the brink of being in the elite all over the state.
His enthusiasm has led him to become the best coach in public relations because of his untiring efforts to have his girls’ feats known.
Urben has played a major role in this development. She qualified for state tourney as a freshman a year ago and only last month she won a special bowling tournament that included her getting the best of the male champion.
Urben already has earned a reputation as a feared slugger on the state champion softball team, but it appears that her feats on the lanes have eclipsed them.
Gossman has been an unlikely development, a freshman rolling better than most seniors and his teammates astonishing larger schools. Wayland boys’ bowling coach Sherry Miklusicak explained the Vikings had a pretty good outfit when they beat the Wildcats in a dual match.
Bowling is just one of the most recent sports offered in interscholastic competition and I am personally supportive because it welcomes a different kind of athlete who may not be so well suited to basketball, football or baseball. And any time we can get teen-agers to hang out on the lanes rather than hanging out on the streets or playing video games, our communities benefit.
Bowling may not seem to be the exciting attraction associated with football or basketball, but this year it’s given Hopkins and Wayland another something to be proud of.
PHOTO: Sydney Urben and Bill Holbrook, pupil and teacher.
