On Feb. 18, the BVSW bowlers will participate in the Eastern Kansas League (EKL) to determine future eligibility.

There are 16 bowlers in total on the team- ranging from sophomores to seniors- but only 12 can make it to the EKL. The ones who are able will compete against all of the Blue Valley high schools, Aquinas, Gardner and others in the area at Olathe East’s home lanes.

“I think [the later tournaments will] get more tough and difficult,” first year bowling coach Tom Hult said. “Because they start to get the best from all over the state.”

Hult replaced former coach Kimberly Spencer, who currently teaches at a school in Missouri. Nonetheless, the EKLs will remain the same.

“I remember those are more intense than normal,” senior Madeline Fines said. “It determines who goes to State.” The state tournament will take place in Emporia.

In fact, in 2014, now-graduate Chelsea Callihan scored well enough to advance to this level. (Last year, Southwest’s varsity got 7th place with a total of 1,559, and the JV got 6th place with 1,315.)

Fines said that she doesn’t think the team is “super stressed about results” and is always open to “positive feedback.”

This is her fourth and final year of bowling. Her averages are more consistent, she made the top 10 series score for the record board and had a high score of 175- she believes she significantly advanced from freshman year.

Junior Rachael Sorcher said the EKL would “help give girls some confidence”.

She just joined the team this season when she looked for a fun extracurricular activity to do and thought it would be a good choice.

“I got 40 at tryouts,” Sorcher said. “And I’ve definitely improved since then.”

Although sophomore Londyn Bogseth can’t partake in the EKL due to other plans, she still talked about bowling and her technique.

“I like to focus on how I’m lining up,” Bogseth said. “Or else the ball goes crooked.”

This is her second year on the team, and she made great progress since her freshman tryouts in December 2013. Her best game was a 156 with a turkey earlier this season.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Hult said regarding the team, however.

He attributes the joint success of the bowling team to the fact that all 16 girls maintain positive attitudes, and will coach next year if all goes as planned.

(UPDATE: Varsity got 8th overall and JV got 10th. The high series from both groups were 430 and 337, made by Madeline Fines and Riley Trent.)