The player focuses on the pins, picks up their fresh ball, and determines the swing they need to do. The player swings and the crowd grows quiet with suspense as the bowling ball slowly runs down the lane. The inevitable sound of pins falling down as the crowd and the player sigh in relief. The bowler picks up the new ball as the next set of pins is set up and gets in position, to start it all over again.

Bowling is widely known as an extremely precise game that is hard to excel at, but Niles West’s bowling team is an expert at just that. The Niles West boys JV and varsity bowling team won their home game against Niles North, this past Thursday, Nov. 18. Varsity swept away the competition by winning 9-0. The team was ecstatic about their win and it’s credited to each player’s hard work and determination.

Due to bowling being a sport that’s played in pairs instead of a group, individuals have to come up with their own game plans.

“My strategy was just to go out there and have fun I guess, this is my first year doing bowling so I don’t wanna get the mindset of trying to destroy my opponent every single game, I just get there and do the best I can,” sophomore Gavin Decicco

Individual goals were also achieved in this tournament against North, “This tournament I’ve beaten my personal record. My hope for this season is to be the best JV player on the team and this game has helped solidify confidence in my abilities,” Dacicco said. 

Some players thought this game was bittersweet because they didn’t do as well as they could have.

“I think I did okay I got five strikes in a row but I also didn’t get a single spare, our team did pretty good overall, and we’ll hopefully do even better next game,” senior and varsity bowler Reymarc Chin said. 

But most importantly the team has been able to create new goals about advancing to state for the season.

“My goal for this season is to get as many wins as possible. When regionals come around we’ll qualify for sectionals, and see how far we go”, Chin said. 

Bowling coach and math teacher James Krezeminski is proud of his team’s hard work and looks forward to the upcoming games. 

“This bowling season we are collectively trying to beat some of the teams we haven’t beaten in the past and get some members qualified for sectionals. I feel the team did really well and I can’t wait for the next game,” Krezeminski said.

The next boys bowling tournament is Tuesday, Nov. 28 against Glenbrook North.