In what seems like the dusty old corners of Loyola athletics, shoved behind the football and lacrosse team, lies the girl’s bowling team. Jumping from five players to twenty five in the school year of 2020, you can’t help but wonder if this was a COVID thing.

“Real” sports had been cancelled, and perhaps these girls had nothing else to do. Head Coach Bruce Tres was not there to mess around. These girls soon learned that bowling isn’t just an activity, or something you do while you sip on some pop and munch on some french fries.

Developing a quick passion for the sport, Loyola girls bowling moved up the ranks. They weren’t seen as a joke, and they weren’t seen as the small team who couldn’t keep up. The girls grinded through their practices, and soon, they were seen as real competition.

With a 5-2-0 record, the Lady Ramblers headed into the GCAC Tournament on Saturday, January 29. The girls were confident with their previous wins and were ready to take on some more. Junior Lexi Vasilopolous bowled a 198 and a 191, finishing fourth overall. Lexi finished first and Junior Claire Weber finished 13th overall.

The team was able to bowl to a sixth place overall win, continuing to the most important tournament. Since November, Loyola Girls Bowling has been preparing for the biggest tournament of the
season.

During the State Regional, held at Classic Bowl, the Ramblers competed in six games against three teams. MVP, Vasilopolous, unfortunately missed the big day. “I was really disappointed to miss such an important day of the season, but I know my team will pull through without me,” Vasilopolous said.

After an upsetting first loss to New Trier, the Ramblers came back strong against Niles North. Claire Weber ‘23 scored a 143, but that wasn’t her high game. Her highest game came out to be a 201 in the very last game.

Despite their high scores, the competition was too intense. The girls were unable to pull off a winning title, but the experience was more than they could ask for.

Parent and supporter of the team, George Sargent, says that “I’ve been watching these girls since the day that they tried out, and every one of them have improved tremendously.”

He added, “the team started off with little to no girls, and it just kept growing.”

Although they did not bring home the gold, these hard working players brought home something much more than a lousy medal. They walked into practice on the first day, just looking for a hobby. Now, they have a family and a real understanding of what the sport is really about. They came home with new experiences, new friends, and a new love for bowling.