On Friday, Nov. 8, Stevenson’s boys varsity bowling team faced their first game of the winter season against Antioch Community High School at Fair Havens Bowling in Mundelein. The Patriots won the game with a score of 3458 to 3005.
Varsity bowler Nathon Fierer ‘25 led the team with a 729 series, followed by Jude Sean’s contribution of 584 series. Varsity student Sean Ped ‘25 also saw a successful run, with a 259 high game.
The matches consist of 3 games with 6 bowlers. After the games, the bowlers’ scores are recorded and added up, and the team with the most pins knocked down wins. As for conference matches, the bowling team also competes in 3 games with 6 bowlers. For each game, they drop the bowler with the lowest score for a 5-person team score. At the end of the 3 games, they add up all the games, and the higher score wins.
According to Cody Mathias, the head coach of the varsity bowling team, the team played well as multiple students on the team scored strikes and spares. He appreciates how well each bowler worked together to ensure a victory.
“Our first match on Friday against Antioch did go the way we were hoping,” Mathias said. “We started the season off with a win. Some highs included seeing the entire program have fun and seeing some success. Another high was seeing the varsity bowlers have good chemistry and compete at a high level.”
Fierer agrees with Mathias and is proud of how the first game went. According to Fierer, this is the first step to further successes as a team.
“We’re going for a 3-peat conference championship,” Fierer said. “We also have the ultimate goal of making it to state as any high school athlete would. Anyone can say that, but the action we take to get there is hopefully what’s going to set us apart come regionals and sectionals.”
The team trains every school day from 4:00–5:30 p.m., with the exception of match days. Mathias emphasizes that such practices help to encourage muscle memory, focus on the fundamentals of bowling, and build team chemistry.
“Overall, we have a competitive yet supportive group where everyone is trying to help others improve their game,” Fierer said.