Dragons’ bowling teams advance to state tourney

The Dallas High School girls bowling team is competing in another state tournament, having edged South Albany for the district championship. They are trying to qualify for their third national tournament bid in as many years. Photo submitted.

The Dallas High School girls bowling team is headed to state for the third straight year, and the boys team is joining them there.

Both teams qualified for the 2024 High School State Tournament because of strong performances at districts. The girls outlasted South Albany for first place. The boys took second, losing to district champs South Salem by just two pins.

“It’s a big deal, especially with the girls,” head coach Ray Rogers said of his teams’ efforts. “The girls have a streak going. The only time they’ve been defeated in the last three years is two times at state, and they came in second both times.”

Fans, friends and family won’t travel far to see the Dragons compete against Oregon’s best high school teams. The state tournament is at AMF Firebird Lanes in Salem, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25.

The hot streak Rogers refers to includes qualifying for the national finals the past two years. The girls weren't able to participate in 2022 due to lack of funds. Bowling is a club sport and does not receive financial assistance from the high school.

“All of our funds come from the kids and from fundraising,” girls team coach Carrie Phillips said.

Off to the state tournament is the Dallas High School boys bowling team. The Dragons finished second to South Salem at the district tournament, but still advanced. Photo submitted.

Life in the waxed lanes was different in 2023, however, as community fundraisers netted enough money to send the girls to Beavercreek, Ohio for the national tournament. They placed 25th out of 136 teams.

“We were able to take five bowlers with us,” Phillips said.

Sophomore Jaelynn Bohland, a two-year varsity starter, was one of these five bowlers. No stranger to high-stakes competition she competed at district, state and national tournaments already.

“I really don’t think about anything,” Bohland, who sports a 142 average, said of her approach. “My attitude is to just roll the ball.”

Bohland is experienced enough to know what her social calendar will look like over the next few weeks.

“Between now and (state) there will be a lot of practice,” she said.

Mathew Bobeda manages finances for the Dallas Bowling Club. Fundraising efforts, he added, are multifaceted.

“The club is funded by local business sponsors, fundraisers at the bowling alley, can drives, bingo and one local tournament held each year,” Bobeda said.

Bobeda estimates season expenses total $5,0000 or more, an amount that pays for local tournaments, uniforms, lineage fees and travel expenses. “It is more (money) if we send either a team or singles to nationals,” he added.

Costs are cut wherever possible. Coaches volunteer their time, for example.

“District sports use school buildings and grounds, are supported by boosters, and district sports coaches are paid or compensated for their time,” Bobeda said.

Though bowlers can earn their athletic letters, their team accomplishments aren’t recognized at the same level as other sports on campus, according to Phillips.

“It would be nice for the bowlers to get the recognition other sports do. For example, when football or baseball or volleyball wins districts or state, they get really cool banners that get hung up at the school. But because we’re a club, we don’t quite get the same recognition,” Phillips said. “Most of our trophies and things stay down here at (Starlite Lanes).”

Phillips added relationships are improving with the high school, and that “some of our older things are now on display at the high school. They’re really starting to work more and more with us.”

Increased recognition is measurable in other ways, however. Take team numbers. This year there were 32 bowlers in the club, or 15 more than last year. This is enough bowlers to field four teams, three at the varsity level and one at the middle school level.

Freshman Caleb Cushway is one of the newbies.

“I know someone on the team. I thought it would be a fun thing to try out, so I decided to try out,” Cushway said. “I’m happy with my decision.”

Cushway has improved his scoring average by more than 30 pins this season. He attributes this “to being around more experienced bowlers and having a good coach. When you’re bowling with experienced people, you learn from them.”

His goal in the coming years is to make varsity and to bowl at the state tournament.

As for Rogers, he is a busy man. He is a roofer. He runs the pro shop at the bowling center. And he coaches high school and junior teams three days a week.

“The first time I rolled a bowling ball down the lane I was eight years old. I’m 57 years old and I’ve got more than 48 years in this game. I’ve got arthritic knees and I’m still bowling,” Rogers said. “There’s a lot involved in this game that I want to teach to everybody.”

Teaching others respect and appreciation is high on his list.

“That’s my biggest pet peeve, the lack of knowledge of the game. There are so many people that think you just grab a ball and knock pins down. They don’t know that the lane is 60 feet long, that it’s 42 inches wide,” he said. “You go down and talk to these kids, and I’m a stickler about teaching them this stuff, because the more you know about something the better you do at it. And the better you do at it, the more fun you have at it.”

The U.S. High School Bowling National Championships are set for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 8-10. The top two teams at state tournaments automatically qualify for nationals.