By Aaron Eshelman, Staff Writer
Bowling tryouts concluded on Sunday, and the varsity rosters for both the men’s and women’s teams are being narrowed down.
The bracket portion of tryouts was won by senior Carley Sullivan on the women’s side and freshman Tanner Vogel on the men’s.
But Head Coach Billy Murphy said that these bowlers will have to rely on their teammates throughout the course of the long season.
“In our program, it’s not about the individual. It’s about the group, and while I do believe we have great leaders and a couple that may achieve more on the lanes, personally, I also know that this is the deepest group we have had in a while and great performances can and will come from different athletes at each event,” Murphy said.
Murphy said that one of their team goals is to have “great team chemistry and help each other grow personally and athletically through the year.”
This team chemistry, Murphy said, will help members get to their goal of qualifying for collegiate nationals and competing for a national championship at the end of the year.
Newman has never won a team national championship in bowling, but has qualified for nationals most recently in 2017 for the men and 2018 for the women.
“This is a very talented group. I feel nationals is a realistic possibility. We just have to go out there and show the whole country what we’re all about,” redshirt sophomore Tyler Synovec said.
Synovec and teammate Jared Roberts both made nationals as members of Midland University’s team before deciding to transfer to Newman to finish their careers.
The women’s team feels equally optimistic, said junior Madison Douglass.
“If we work together as a team and shoot our spares, well then I feel like we have a really good chance at making it,” Douglass said.
With the first competition in October and nationals not until April, Murphy said, the bowling teams have to be at the top of their games for much longer than most other sports at Newman. He said this is one of bowling’s biggest challenges every year.
The season kicks off for both the men and the women at the SWIBC tournament Oct. 12 in Dallas.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo. Newman Athletics
