Bowling on the big stage; Several Austin bowlers will compete at the state level
Published 9:34 pm Tuesday, November 6, 2018
- Ian Bundy of Austin practices at Echo Lanes Tuesday night. Bundy will bowl in the Minnesota state singles bowling tournament in New Hope Dec. 8. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
After a season that saw the Austin High School varsity bowling team miss out on a team state berth, a couple of bowlers are setting their sights on competing at the individual level and the Austin junior varsity team will compete in the JV state tournament.
Austin sophomore Ian Bundy and freshman Jared Lillemon are both set to bowl in the Minnesota singles state varsity tournament in New Hope Bowling Alley on Dec. 8. Now instead of bowling just two frames in a team effort, they’ll have to focus on carrying the load on their own against some of the top bowlers in the state.
The Austin varsity bowling team recently wrapped up its season, with two bowlers headed to state and the Austin JV team is headed to state. Members of the Austin varsity and JV bowling teams include: back row (left to right): Kaden Case, Shane Crouch, Ian Bundy, Wyatt Wallis, Adam Pike, Ashlyn Brandt and Jared Lillemon; front row: Lauren Pike, Kody Kroneman and Izaac Erichson. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“I don’t know if I’ll have a chance because there are so many good bowlers, but it will be a fun experience for sure,” Lillemon said. “I’ve gotten a lot more competitive since last year. I went back and forth between the JV and varsity teams this year and I know what it’s like to win now.”
Lillemon and Bundy both began bowling at Echo Lanes as youths and they’ve seen big improvements in their abilities over the years.
Lauren Pike makes a throw in practice at Echo Lanes Tuesday night. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Bundy said he learned a lot as a younger bowler and now he’s learning a lot more from Austin head coach Elijah Rayman, a former Packer bowler who also bowled for a season at Midland University.
“I’m going into the state meet with a lot of confidence. You just have to take your time and easy it up,” Bundy said. “It’s a learning game. You practice and you do what you can do to get better. We have a great coach in Elijah. He bowled with my brother Tyler and now he’s coaching me.”
Rayman, who is now attending nursing school in Riverland Community College, took on the head coaching job with the Austin bowling team this season after he had played under former head coach Jim Juenger while Rayman was in high school.
Kaden Case makes a throw for the Austin bowling team in practice in Echo Lanes Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“I decided I would try to see what I could do with the kids this year,” Rayman said. “It definitely brings back a few memories, especially going to different tournaments with all of the good times we had. Week to week, I’m trying to make them better bowlers. It’s time consuming, but it’s a lot of fun and I really like coaching the kids.”
The Austin JV team will compete in its state tournament in Concord Lanes in South Saint Paul Dec. 2.
Bundy was an all-conference bowler for Austin this season and Lillemon was honorable mention.
Ashlyn Brandt practices for the Austin bowling team in Echo Lanes Tuesday night. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
