Local schools join together for first NSAA bowling team
HARTINGTON — The row your boat song has a new set of lyrics set to be sung by the same tune for Hartington students.
Roll-roll roll your ball, gently down the lane.
That’s because Hartington-Newcastle and Cedar Catholic High School formally announced plans to sanction a prep bowling team for both boys and girls this season.
Nate Holan and Mike Emanuel will be co-head coaches and the school’s athletic director is excited for the possibilities.
“I think it is a good opportunity to get kids involved in activities,” said HNS Athletic Director Blair Kalin. “I know we will have support hopefully getting as many kids that are willing to give it a try as we can.
“I know the coaches are excited and they will do a fine job leading this new activity.”
The season officially begins 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Plainview with the slate wrapping up with a tournament in Hartington on Jan. 26.
The local team will practice at Broadway Lanes.
Holan took up bowling in college and moved to Hartington and began working with Emanual and participating in leagues together.
“He was helping with a club bowling team and I started to help about four years ago,” Holan said. “We had something that was never in the schools. We traveled all over the place. Now it should be nice and the travel should be a lot less since we will be a lot closer to all the schools.
“We don’t have to give up our weekends every time so that’s nice.”
Holan notes there are about eight to 10 programs that are within an hour drive of Hartington.
“We should be able to fill our schedule pretty easily,” Holan said as the team is still working up a full slate.
The current boys roster includes senior Charlie Dendinger, juniors Colin Potts and Jeremiah Polak and sophomore Jack Stevens. The girls side consists right now of sophomores Grace Kleinschmit, Meredith McGregor and Rebekah Pinkelman. A team needs five bowlers to
A team needs five bowlers to score as a team. Bowlers can participate as individuals and Holan believes the boys should have enough for a scoring team.
“We’re hoping to have enough for a girls (scoring) team too – but we’ll go from here with the girls,” Holan said as the team is still looking for more bowlers. “We started a middle school program and had a good group of kids – about 15 went out this year – so we are hoping to build.
“I think we are on our way. We are going to get started with practice. Hopefully, we will have a few people that come out (Monday) that we didn’t know about.”
Holan does warehouse work for College Covers and Comfy Feet and Emanuel owns North Central Builders.
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