The bowling team at DePaul Prep has had a busy season full of growth and great performances, with great expectations for the coming postseason.

According to Head Coach Joseph Hohrein “The boys’ and girls’ teams showed great improvement. They have prospects of advancing to regionals and sectionals, with a strong chance for further improvements.”

Hohrein has been at the helm since the bowling teams emerged at DePaul Prep. “For the girls, it’s enthusiasm and attitude. Many of our bowlers are either new to the team or moving up from JV and the energy and team chemistry are excellent,” he said.

The boys’ team benefits from a solid group of experienced returners, along with several freshmen who have already demonstrated strong skills.

“Both teams have shown dramatic improvements, thanks to a mix of fresh and veteran talent. However, the girls’ team has made particularly notable progress,” Hohrein said. The girls have been consistently improving, especially in sparring and scoring, which was a major highlight this year. On the boys’ side, their average scores tend to improve during major competitions, largely due to the leadership and experience of the returning players, who offer guidance to the newer team members.

The team’s hard work is paying off as both teams prepare for the upcoming postseason events. “We’ve had a solid regular season, and I’m confident that both the boys and girls teams will finish strongly at regionals,” Hohrein said . The boys’ team has already begun preparing for their regional competition, with sectionals on the horizon.

“We’re taking it one step at a time,” said sophomore Liam Filan, a member of the boys’ team. “It’s not just about the big picture but making sure we do our best in every match leading up to regionals.”

The key for Filan, who aspires to go to state one day, is staying even and focused. “I know I need to keep practicing, particularly to be consistent with my shots, but I can see going to state my junior or senior year,” he said.

The girls’ team, still not quite at the regional stage, is just as committed to improve and build on successes. “We just have fun with what we do, and we support each other no matter what. That’s what makes us a strong team,” said sophomore Evelyn Sell, a leading performer on the girls’ squad this year.

According to Sell, an improved sense of camaraderie among team members and strong leadership under Coach Hohrein have helped her improve her skills this year: “The coaches really help us stay focused, and I’ve definitely improved through their feedback,” she said.

The hallmark of this team during this season has been their mental toughness in high-pressure situations such as being behind 20 pins going into the 10th frame and then coming back to win. As Hohrein said, one of many reasons this team has had the season they have had thus far is because they have been able to stay positive and focused. “It’s easy to smile when you’re hitting strikes, but it’s when you miss a shot that you really need to keep your composure.”

“The veterans on the team have done a great job at keeping morale up when things don’t go perfectly,” he explained. The bowlers themselves have echoed this. “I just think to myself, ‘Don’t think, just bowl, ‘” said Sell.

Filan’s approach to competition highlights the importance of perseverance and mental strength. “If I do my best, that’s all that matters,” said Filan. He also said, “I know that I cannot allow myself to get down after a bad shot because it is at those times when you actually let your team down. Staying positive and focused is the key to success.”

The ultimate goal for both teams is postseason success, while they prepare for regionals and sectionals.Hohrein wants to continue developing the program.

“I want to get to the point where we have so many athletes trying out that we need multiple levels of competition, similar to other sports like soccer or basketball,” he said. “And of course, postseason success is always a goal. We’re facing off against teams of all sizes at regionals and sectionals, so we’re ready to compete.”

With the postseason just around the corner, the team’s future looks bright. “Whether it’s regionals, sectionals, or state, we’re ready to bring our best,” Hohrein said.