Loaded with fresh faces, North Allegheny bowling teams exceeding expectations

By: John Grupp
Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

North Allegheny boys bowling coach Bill Jorden welcomed many new faces this season.

But a lot of the same smiles.

“We are starting with a brand new team, so considering that, I think we are doing a great job,” Jorden said. “The fact that we are putting five new guys on the lanes and still able to compete is saying a lot about our program.”

The Tigers (5-4) lost their top six bowlers from last season, including four Western Regional qualifiers, but still carried a winning record into their final match of the season Jan. 29 against North Hills.

Four of the wins came via forfeit because Avonworth and Hampton didn’t sponsor teams this season, but the Tigers beat North Hills in their first meeting and closed the gap in their rematches with Moon and OLSH, the section’s top two teams.

“We’re a relatively new team, but the coach has been helping a lot,” sophomore Chase Beck said. “With his help, we’ve been doing a lot better as the weeks have progressed.”

Senior Andrew Roth, the lone returning bowler with any varsity experience, is averaging a team-best 189.5, the sixth-best mark in the WPIBL West, and will compete at the WPIBL singles championships on Feb. 19 at AMF Mt. Lebanon.

“If Andrew is on his game during the championships, he can actually progress really far,” Jorden said. “When he’s on his game, there’s really not too many people who are better than he is.”

The Tigers, who placed fourth in the 2024 WPIBL team championships, won’t be returning to the playoffs this season, but they have gained valuable experience for the future. Four of their top five bowlers are freshmen or sophomores, including ninth-grader Aiden Austin, second on the team with a 166 average.

Other top bowlers are sophomores Seojin Oh (145.9) and Sai Gunapalli (145.6), along with returning senior Wyatt Rinaman (118.8).

The Tigers practice once a week at their home lanes, Perry Park.

“All in all, everybody has been really good,” said Beck, who bowled a career-high 207 in an intrasquad bye week match Jan. 15. “It’s been a fun season.”

Jorden, who coached NA boys to the 2021 WPIBL and state championships, said his bowlers surpassed their preseason forecast.

“I definitely think we exceeded expectations,” Jorden said. “Most of the guys not only were new to the team, but new to bowling itself. It was really starting with raw material — teaching them how to hold the ball, how to throw the ball. … I really think give us another year or two and we will be one of the top teams in the WPIBL again.”

On the girls side, coach Danelle Tyler has her smallest roster in 15 seasons with only five bowlers.

Junior Emily Dorman is averaging a team-high 116.8, followed closely by senior Hailey Theil (113.5). Rounding out the roster are juniors Adeline Kane (99.0) and Sarah Truitt (90.9) and sophomore Kaitlyn Roy (85).

The girls also have a 5-4 record, but four wins came via forfeit. Their lone on-the-lanes win came against North Hills.

“We graduated a lot of seniors over the last couple of years,” Tyler said. “We are a very new program with new bowlers. Overall, they are not doing too badly.”

Truitt has been good lately. A special needs student, she bowled a 125 against OLSH on Jan. 27 — 34 pins above her average — to provide a memorable highlight to the season. A Special Olympics bowler, she also rolled a 131 earlier this season.

“Sarah Truitt works probably twice as hard as every kid there, to do this,” Tyler said. “It is a rewarding experience.”

Tags: North Allegheny