 Photos and story by Jessica Wagenmaker At N3 we are always looking to expand our coverage of high school sports and activities and with our schools being greater in number than the staff at N3 World Headquarters this can provide a challenge. We are greatly appreciative of the coaches and fans that help us out when it comes to getting info on these events, This is why we were pleased to begin getting scores from Holton Bowling Coach Jessica Wagenmaker. The people who coach our kids put in a lot of time and energy into the task for remuneration that by the hour falls well short of matching minimum wage and asking more from them doesn’t always fit with their schedules. Ms. W. sent us scores but frankly we were at a bit of a loss on how to report other than just posting the scores. Then we of course, being media folks, asked for more. We asked her if she might be willing to send us a little midseason piece on her team. To our delight she acquiesced We also have the scores she sent as the Red Devil Keglers have progressed through the season. .It’s our hope she’ll return with a little postseason wrap up. In the meantime any time we get a report about RD action on the lanes? You'll find them here. Thank you Ms.W. What do turkey, Brooklyn, bed post and pocket all have in common? Bowling! If you didn’t know this, you aren’t alone. As Holton Athletics recently added bowling to their list of school-sponsored sports, these are just a few of the new terms their student-athletes had to learn. Three years ago, I was asked to develop and coach a bowling club for students who weren’t already involved in other winter extracurricular activities. Never one to do things halfway, I took it a step further and, with the help of Athletic Directors Jack Numerdor and Jared Hudson, made bowling an official sport at Holton. As part of the Central States Activities Conference, the Red Devils have accomplished a great deal in a short period of time. Last season, Kylie Gould participated in the MHSAA State Bowling Finals. Four Holton student-athletes were named to the All-State Academic Team and Drew Trygstad was awarded a $500 scholarship, the region’s top prize from the Michigan Bowling Coaches Association. Despite some early success, creating a Varsity sports team from scratch is not an easy task. Many high school students shy away from trying a new sport and there is a huge risk of whether they will finish out the season when things get tough. Most programs are full of student-athletes who began bowling in youth leagues years before joining their high school team. These programs are well-established, making it difficult for new programs to find their place and their student-athletes to find success. So where are the Red Devils this season?  COVID-19 hit the girls’ team hard this season as Kylie Gould, last year’s state finalist, was quarantined two weeks due to a COVID-19 exposure. Five new bowlers joined Gould and two other returning student-athletes. Two of these newcomers are dual-sport athletes, balancing their time between the bowling lanes and the basketball court. With returning captain Gould sidelined at the start of the season, the freshman bowlers had to quickly step up. Gould rejoined the team who is gaining momentum with recent back-to-back victories, a surge they hope to see continue into the regional tournament. The boys’ team is in the midst of a rebuilding year with only one return bowler from last year’s squad. The passion for their newfound sport is evident though as many attend optional Sunday practices to continue improving their game. While the excitement on a young bowler’s face the first time they use a properly fitted ball is priceless, the cost of the fitting is not. More than half of the team needed to be fitted for their first-ever bowling balls, adding additional expenses to an already cash-strapped season. Prior to COVID-19, all lane fees and equipment costs were covered through fundraising. Although Holton has approved bowling as a school-sponsored sport, they are not school-funded. Lane fees and equipment were costs the team expected to face as a new program. However, the cancellation of all fundraisers due to the pandemic has made raising money for the program even more difficult. COVID-19 also shut down all bowling alleys for months, making offseason practice impossible for the up-and-coming team unless they traveled to another state.  Despite all of the work to put together a new program, the rewards outweigh all challenges. Watching a group of student-athletes learn and enjoy a game they can play for a lifetime is the greatest victory. We would love for you to follow along with Holton Red Devil Bowling. With limited capacities in bowling facilities this year spectators are prohibited. All matches are live-streamed on the Holton Activities Boosters and Holton Red Devil Bowling FaceBook pages. If you miss the live-stream you can always check the Near North Now for team scores and highlights. CSAA Silver bracket 2-13-21 @ Northway Lanes Boys Lakeview def Holton 18-12 High score Holton- Joseph McLean 158 Kent City def Holton 29-1 High score-Chase Albright 142 Girls Holton def Lakeview 18-12 High Score- Katie Peterson 134 Kent City def Holton 27-3 High Score- Jasmin Cooper 170 Holton Bowling 2-24-21 Girls Holton def Fremont 27-3 High score- Kylie Gould 164 Boys Fremont def Holton 22-8 High Score- Joseph McLean 180 Holton Bowling 3-1-21 Boys Whitehall Def Holton 17-13 High score- Ethan Legard 183 Girls Whitehall Def Holton 29-1 High score- May Newell 130 Holton Bowling 3-3-21 Boys Oakridge def Holton 28-2 New school record- Joseph McLean 236 Girls Oakridge def Holton 17-13 High score- May Newell 148 
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