State Club Bowling Division 2 Championships
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Dale's Weston Lanes, Weston
Monroe team members:
Larissa Ethridge, Sr.
Ryan Stoneback, Sr.
Devon Boeck, Jr.
Trace Ermey, Jr.
Kody Althaus, Jr.
Samantha Lynch, So.
Collyn Wilde, So.
Kirstin Rood, So.
Keon Bulter, Fr.
Monroe Coaches: Brittany Svendsen, Mike Myers, Stan Moffitt
MONROE - When Monroe High School sophomore Kirstin Rood suffered a broken wrist while bowling five years ago she searched online for a solution and turned to bowling with two hands.
Rood is still using the same two-handed bowling technique, and it has taken her to the State Club Bowling Division 2 Championships Friday through Sunday at Dale's Weston Lanes in Weston. Monroe will be one of about 50 teams and more than 250 bowlers at the tournament.
"My dad and I looked on the Internet and no other girl was bowling two-handed in the state," Rood said. "I couldn't keep my hand under the ball so I started bowling with two hands. I stayed with it because it's less pressure on the hand I broke."
Rood said the second hand is used to support her other hand because she's not strong enough to come back and bowl with one hand.
"When I go to bowl at places people in the back say there is a girl bowling with two hands and they come to watch," she said. "I think they are surprised with how many (revolutions) I put on the ball."
It's the fourth straight year Monroe has qualified for state. The Cheesemakers placed fourth at state last year, and they are looking to improve on that finish this year. Monroe will have four individuals bowl at state Friday- junior Devon Boeck, junior Trace Ermey, sophomore Collyn Wilde and senior Larissa Ethridge. The Cheesemakers' nine-member team will bowl Saturday. The top five teams will advance to the semifinals Saturday night and then the top three teams advance to the finals Sunday.
Each bowler in the singles state tournament will bowl three games in the first round Friday and the top 25 percent will move on to the semifinals Saturday. The top five from the semifinals will advance to the finals Sunday.
Boeck leads the Cheesemakers with an 85 percent fill percentage, which is the percent of time he bowls a strike or spare. Boeck, who finished 15th at state last year but didn't make the cut for the finals, has a 201 average per game. Boeck is hoping to be in the top 25 percent to advance to the semifinals.
"Being No. 1 in the conference gave me a lot to expect out of myself at state," Boeck said. "I think we can win it this year. We have been coming together as a team, practicing hard and getting our form down."
Monroe finished 10-0 and won the District 3 tournament for the fourth straight year.
Ermey has a bowling average per game of 206. Ermey's fill percentage is a notch below Boeck's at 77.5 percent. Ermey is making his third state tournament appearance.
"It's a great experience," he said. "It never gets old. It's our goal to do our best and average 200 per team."
Ermey said in order to make the finals, it will probably take a 750 for a combined six games Friday and in the semifinals if he qualifies. Ermey bowled a perfect game earlier this year in practice.
"I have a better chance this year," he said of making the cut for the finals. "I have practiced as much as I could and improved."
Seven of Monroe's nine bowlers competed at state last year. Monroe coach Brittany Svendsen sees the experience paying off.
"They definitely have the experience," Svendsen said. "The jitters will be less this year. I think we can do the same or better than last year."
This marks Rood's first time bowling on the varsity. Rood said knowing you have to pick up a spare to win a game is the biggest challenge.
"We are bowling against some of the best people," she said. "Everyone picks up their spares. I want to go and have fun, but I want to win. I think this year is our year."
Rood is still using the same two-handed bowling technique, and it has taken her to the State Club Bowling Division 2 Championships Friday through Sunday at Dale's Weston Lanes in Weston. Monroe will be one of about 50 teams and more than 250 bowlers at the tournament.
"My dad and I looked on the Internet and no other girl was bowling two-handed in the state," Rood said. "I couldn't keep my hand under the ball so I started bowling with two hands. I stayed with it because it's less pressure on the hand I broke."
Rood said the second hand is used to support her other hand because she's not strong enough to come back and bowl with one hand.
"When I go to bowl at places people in the back say there is a girl bowling with two hands and they come to watch," she said. "I think they are surprised with how many (revolutions) I put on the ball."
It's the fourth straight year Monroe has qualified for state. The Cheesemakers placed fourth at state last year, and they are looking to improve on that finish this year. Monroe will have four individuals bowl at state Friday- junior Devon Boeck, junior Trace Ermey, sophomore Collyn Wilde and senior Larissa Ethridge. The Cheesemakers' nine-member team will bowl Saturday. The top five teams will advance to the semifinals Saturday night and then the top three teams advance to the finals Sunday.
Each bowler in the singles state tournament will bowl three games in the first round Friday and the top 25 percent will move on to the semifinals Saturday. The top five from the semifinals will advance to the finals Sunday.
Boeck leads the Cheesemakers with an 85 percent fill percentage, which is the percent of time he bowls a strike or spare. Boeck, who finished 15th at state last year but didn't make the cut for the finals, has a 201 average per game. Boeck is hoping to be in the top 25 percent to advance to the semifinals.
"Being No. 1 in the conference gave me a lot to expect out of myself at state," Boeck said. "I think we can win it this year. We have been coming together as a team, practicing hard and getting our form down."
Monroe finished 10-0 and won the District 3 tournament for the fourth straight year.
Ermey has a bowling average per game of 206. Ermey's fill percentage is a notch below Boeck's at 77.5 percent. Ermey is making his third state tournament appearance.
"It's a great experience," he said. "It never gets old. It's our goal to do our best and average 200 per team."
Ermey said in order to make the finals, it will probably take a 750 for a combined six games Friday and in the semifinals if he qualifies. Ermey bowled a perfect game earlier this year in practice.
"I have a better chance this year," he said of making the cut for the finals. "I have practiced as much as I could and improved."
Seven of Monroe's nine bowlers competed at state last year. Monroe coach Brittany Svendsen sees the experience paying off.
"They definitely have the experience," Svendsen said. "The jitters will be less this year. I think we can do the same or better than last year."
This marks Rood's first time bowling on the varsity. Rood said knowing you have to pick up a spare to win a game is the biggest challenge.
"We are bowling against some of the best people," she said. "Everyone picks up their spares. I want to go and have fun, but I want to win. I think this year is our year."