Penn-Trafford bowlers looking to snap postseason drought

By: William Whalen
Saturday, December 8, 2018 | 1:18 AM

It’s been a while since the Penn-Trafford bowling team has reached the postseason. To be exact, the girls have been absent since 2011 and the boys haven’t graced a bracket since the debut of the iPhone.

“This has been a building process with this team,” said Penn-Trafford coach Bud Cummins, who is in his 10th season as coach. “I’ve had some decent singles (bowlers) over the last few years but not teams.”

The boys finished 2017-18 with 5-5 and tied for third place with rival Greensburg Salem in the Southeast Section of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling league.

Penn-Trafford (1-0) started off on the right foot with a convincing 7-0 win over Greensburg Salem last Wednesday to open the season.

“I think we’re going to be really competitive this year,” Cummins said.

Cummins’ optimism stems from the fact he has a ton of experience and talent returning. And it never hurts to a have two-time section MVP in senior Mike Barnvinchek to anchor a lineup. Barnvinchek, who finished 11th in last season’s WPIBL singles championships, finished last season averaging around 208. Cummins said Barnvinchek came in even better this season and consistently is bowling in the 220s at practice.

Four-year starter Dan Kotik (180 average) will help lead the Warriors. Kotik reached the WPIBL singles championships last season, as well.

Another four-year starter, senior Cameron Uranker, will bowl from the No. 3 spot. Again, Cummins is going to rely on Uranker to get some wins for the team.

“(Uranker is) just real steady, and he’s been bowling in a lot of junior leagues and traveling,” Cummins said. “He’s been bowling in the 190s, and we’re expecting a lot from him this year.”

Junior Jason Sathornkich (180) will get the nod at No. 2, and talented sophomore Nathan Horton will lead the Warriors off from the No. 1 spot in the lineup.

Cummins said Horton is consistently bowling over 200 in practice this season and hopes he can duplicate his freshman performance.

The girls team finished fourth in the section last season with a 4-6 record. The Warriors finished runner-up to rival Hempfield in 2011, their last postseason appearance. The girls team dropped their season opener, 7-0, to Greensburg Salem last week.

The Warriors have a mix of talent, some young, some veteran and some bowlers who have been in and out of the program during their high school careers.

Senior Dallys Clark is one of those bowlers who returned to the team this season. Cummins said he’s glad to have her back and put Clark right into the team’s anchor spot.

“I think she brings a calmness to the girls,” Cummins said. “She’s definitely the leader of the girls because I have some young girls that bowl. I expect them to be more competitive this year.”

The return of Clark bumped sophomore Taylor Sathornkichto the No. 4 spot. Sathornkich averaged in the 170s last season.

Freshman Mikayla Uranker will take over as the No. 3 bowler. Cummins said Uranker has been bowling in the 160s during practice this season.

Senior Megan Booher will get the start at No. 2, and two-year starter Madison Shank will settle in at the No. 1. Shank is another bowler Cummins is high on going into the season.

“(Shank’s) a steady bowler who I can always count on to bowl 150,” Cummins said.

She started all last year and averaged around a 170, and as a freshman (Shank) and Taylor (Sathornkich) both did really well and both made regionals.”

Seniors Madison Trainor and Samantha Vinsick round out the girls top seven bowlers.

Cummins feels both teams have a chance of breaking the postseason drought. The girls are going to need to knock off a few favorites along the way while the boys just need to tap into their experience and just bowl.

“I think we’ll be competitive for a second spot,” said Cummins about his girls postseason chances. “I think the strength of the boys is their cohesiveness; they want to be competitive, and their goal is to win the section.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn-Trafford