By JI Reporter Hayden Blaney 

For the first time in program history, the bowling team won districts, sending them to the state competition. On Feb. 12 and 13, they made the trip to Lincoln to compete for the trophy. 

The state team was composed of seniors Samantha McCormack, Ellie Brabec, Gabby Birkel, Jenna Blach and Margaret Hiatt, sophomore Maelee Smith and freshman Alexa DeGeorge. Going into the competition, the team was ranked seventh, but with their 3-0 upset against No. 2 Bellevue West, they finished in fifth place. 

Mr. Chris Dziadus has been the bowling coach for all five years Marian has had an NSAA sanctioned team. “It’s so different because bowling is fun in general,” Dziadus said. He considered the season to be a large success despite not bringing home the trophy. “At the beginning of the season, I had said that I just wanted to get better and better and hopefully win districts, and that’s kind of exactly what we did,” he said. 

This season was Dziadus’ first at the team competition, a success he credited to his assistant coach, Ted Baer. “He’s just helped out so much,” Dziadus said. In his first season, Baer not only helped coach the team to success, but also gave them new tools to achieve it.

He provided the girls with new bowling balls that were fitted for each of them.

“Figuring out how to throw it definitely has to be drilled down,” senior Margaret Hiatt said.

“I think we were extra successful this year because we got a new assistant coach,” Birkel said. 

Hiatt attended the state competition for her first time this season. “We keep it lighthearted,” Hiatt said. “We have a lot of free time and a lot of time to talk,” she said. These things helped bring about a team culture that propelled the group to state. The team had a pre-match ritual that demonstrated the fellowship between each of the bowlers. “We huddle in a circle and stick one of our feet in,” Hiatt said. Then, they join in prayer. 

Senior Gabby Birkel was Marian’s lone competitor in the individual competition. “Getting to state was the goal and once we got there, the rest was just for fun to see how much further we could go,” she said. “It was a lot of bowling, but it was so fun to hear the other seniors and my family cheer when I did well,” she said. 

Though she made it to the individual competition, Birkel enjoyed the team competition much more. “Competing as a team is definitely a lot more fun because we can actually talk and support each other,” she said. The dynamic of the team is something she credited much of their success to. “This team is so special because we focus on the relationships and experience as a team rather than just the outcome,” she said. 

The bowling team will graduate five seniors, but Birkel is excited about the future. “I already saw a lot of improvement this year,” she said. “Who knows? Maybe in a year or two we’ll be state champions of bowling.” 

“This was definitely one of the most impressive teams in Marian’s bowling history just because of all the work the team put in and the help we received from Ted and Mr. D,” Birkel said.