Bowlers ready for challenging season

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, December 15, 2006

The Grand Island bowling team has a nice blend of talent and experience in 2006-07, and second-year head coach Craig Davis feels that his charges are ready to start climbing the standings in the highly competitive Niagara Frontier League.

The Class B Vikings go up against a series of bowling powerhouses belonging to larger schools on a regular basis in the NFL, which makes it difficult to gain ground. The boys title could go to any number of teams, with Niagara Falls, Lew-Port and perhaps Niagara-Wheatfield as the favorites. Lockport, a perennial state contender, is the heavy favorite to win the girls league.

The Grand Island boys suffered through a 3-11 campaign last season and wound up seventh in the eight-team league. The good news is that the top six bowlers are back, a year older, wiser and more experienced.

“The Niagara Frontier League has got to be the toughest league around,” Davis said. “You used to have to win half of your matches to makes sectionals, which was very challenging for us, but they’ve relaxed that a little bit, so we’re hoping that we’ll be able to go this year.”

Leading the team are senior co-captains Ross Aydelotte and Brandon Digati. Aydelotte averaged 196 last season, while Digati, a Third Team NFL All-Star, posted a 202 average.

Also back are junior Buddy Boss, sophomores Jason Davis and Joe Khreis and freshman Zack Kelley. Boss averaged 188 last season and Davis, the coach’s son, averaged 180. Khreis and Kelley didn’t get in enough appearances for an official league average, but Davis says they’re in the same neighborhood.

The girls fared somewhat better last season, going 8-6 in the NFL to tie Niagara-Wheatfield for fourth place in the league. That record qualified them for sectionals, and that’s where the real fun began.

The Grand Island ladies wound up fourth overall as a team – but the three squads ahead of them all belonged to Class A, making the Vikings Class B sectional champs.

This year’s girls also will look to a pair of senior co-captains in Jessica Coughlin and Stephanie Cope. Coughlin was a First Team NFL All-Star last season, and she’s started out strong in 2006-07 with a 192 average.

Also returning are junior Tory Eldridge, who’s off to a 173 average so far this season, junior Lizz Wilson and sophomore Nicole Serra. Joining the team this season is transfer student Erica Barrett, a junior.

“The Niagara Frontier League is good preparation for the playoffs, that’s for sure,” Davis said. “We’re ready when the season’s done.”

The girls team has started off on the right foot. At last week’s Maryvale Tournament, Grand Island placed fifth out of 27 teams.

“These girls all have experience,” Davis said. “They all know what’s out there. They like seeing that banner hanging there in the gym, and they want to put another one there next to it. And I think they have an excellent chance to repeat.”