NOW WITH A COMPLETE PROGRAM, AVILA BOWLING BEGINS ITS FOURTH SEASON
Entering the fourth season of the Avila Bowling program, head coach Paul Wolf finally has a full roster – with strong bowlers throughout each class.
In the first three seasons since the teams' inception, Wolf was not competing with his full complement of weapons. Now that he and the program have a full roster filled out, things are only looking up.
"It's huge. To have upperclassmen finally – and some leadership – it's huge. It's a big advantage for us," Wolf noted.
Arguably the biggest benefit to having a complete roster is the leadership aspect. Wolf has bowlers who have been with the program for multiple years and their leadership is showing from top to bottom.
"Devyn Coleman and Claire Busch have both been great leaders. Claire is a junior and Devyn is a senior who has been with us since the inception of the program. The girls all follow their lead," said Wolf.
Last season, Busch joined Kamdyn Burman as both were named Second Team All-KCAC and look to build upon their success, with large leadership roles within the team.
"On the guys' side, Aidan Tesdall and Nic Garza are the two most vocal leaders. It's made a difference," added Wolf. "Finally we aren't rudderless anymore. I'm not running the program, they're running the program and that's important."
As imperative as it is to have a complete roster to build the program's tradition and to lay the groundwork for success on the lanes, a program's tradition and its continued strong performances are something that helps the long-term success of Avila bowling moving forward:
"It's big, recruiting-wise. We're still building the program, so the more success you have, the more people notice you and you get a better type of recruit. I think that's always huge. We have a core that can make some noise," Wolf acknowledged.
Of course it is a strength to have positive leadership with upperclassmen, it is imperative to have younger student-athletes who can step up and contribute to the program. Wolf knows that is something Avila is able to rely upon this season:
"I'm really impressed with some of the freshmen we brought in this year. Davis Best and Ta'Shawn Clark on the guys' side. Coel Shepherd is a transfer who is eventually going to be on varsity. Brody Stanback is right up there, as is Aidan Tesdall. We have a good, core group on the guys' side."
Joining Coleman, Burman and Busch on the women's side are a few notable underclassmen whom Wolf is excited to see contribute:
On the girls' side, we have three freshmen girls who are pretty good in Kiara Gonzalez, Zoe Fox and Beka Fielder, they're all going to be on varsity for most of the year. I'm pretty happy with the freshmen class."
With the first event of the season beginning this weekend, Wolf is aware of the potential for success his team owns. He knows there are a few keys to success throughout the season.
"We need stay focused and fill frames. All of them know how to strike, it's just filling the rest of the frames. You can throw eight strikes a game, but if you have four opens, you aren't going anywhere. If we can stay focused and – we have really harped on spares are what's going to get you on varsity and it will keep you traveling – that's how you win. That's how good programs win is filling the frames."
Avila bowling kicks off its fourth season on Saturday and Sunday at the Mid-States Championships in Wichita, Kan.
