Gateway bowlers have sights set on returning to state championships

By: Andrew John
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM

After falling short in the state championship a season ago, the Gateway boys bowling team has some unfinished business with the majority of the team returning.

The Gators finished fourth at the Pennsylvania state championship in March at Leisure Lanes in Lancaster. Gateway was swept in their best-of-three quarterfinal matchup against Neshaminy where the Gators fell 214-188 and 214-196 in two Baker games.

The fourth-place finish came off the heels of the Gators winning the Western Regional championship after a best-of-three sweep of Franklin Regional in the final — 198-171 and 168-139.

“We got very close at states. We got into the finals. I think the team feels like there is a little unfinished business. We came really close, and we were on par with all these guys and we learned our lesson. Experience is the most valuable thing a team could ever have. We had the experience of winning and the experience of falling short,” coach Joe Bowman said.

“Those types of things with student-athletes will drive them to be better. Drive them to take a little extra time to be a little bit better than last year. Where we were last year, they have all improved. They’re a team that’s hungry and puts the time in at the lanes.”

This year’s team returns seniors Landon Lohr, Joey Jurczak and Allon Wallace Jr.

Lohr will take over as team captain after the graduation of the lone senior from last year’s team, Alex Keeling-Oliver.

Jurczak also qualified for the Western Regional singles finals and placed eighth overall.

Wallace Jr. was named to the all-state tournament team last season.

“I got six bona fide starters and eight or nine deep with my subs. There is a lot of competition every week,” Bowman said.

Junior Chase Owens will return as well for the Gators. Owens was the top finisher for Gateway at the national tournament where he placed 105th out of 362 bowlers.

Gateway ended up finishing 30th out of 51 qualifying teams.

Seniors Josh Zlokas and Kai Jones, as well as junior Jordan Trenga, also return. Freshman Zac Kennedy has joined the team.

“Quite honestly, we want to win everything and we have the talent in which to do it,” Bowman said.

“Last year, they had to come to the realization that they were talented and they were on equal terms on who they were bowling against. That’s part of growing and bowling as a team. You have to learn to walk before you can learn how to run. Last year, we learned how to walk so this year we could run.”

On the girls’ side, the Gators will have two members bowling this season — sophomore Hazija Hussein and newcomer senior Diana Novak. The Gators graduated Autumn Keeling-Oliver and Gelsey Stone.

Gateway was to open the season against Penn Hills at New Great Valley on Wednesday (Dec. 4).

Even with the elevated expectations for this season, Bowman hopes the Gators continue to put in the work required throughout the season in order to peak at the right time.

“With all the expectations, there is a lot of pressure,” he said. “We try to deal with it one frame at a time. We try to look in the short view rather than the long view.”

Tags: Gateway