Hayden Blaney

Only halfway through the season, the bowling team is already smashing records. 

At the meet against Elkhorn South on Dec. 22, junior Maelee Smith broke Marian’s previous record of 196 for highest game with a score of 200. 

Smith, however, wasn’t done. She broke a second record for highest two game series, beating the previous score of 345 with 366 the next game. Smith has been a part of the team since her freshman year.

“I told Mr. Dzadius after last season that my goal for the next season was to beat the school record,” Smith said. 

After coming close in multiple meets before, she was excited to finally break it. “I was so excited and proud of myself when I beat the two records because I have been working so hard and have improved so much this season and I’m glad it paid off,” Smith said.

“When you set those goals and you accomplish them, it’s a lot of fun,” Coach Chris Dziadus said. 

Dziadus has been the head coach of the bowling team since the sport started at Marian. He is joined on the coaching staff by Assistant Coach Ted Baer. “Earlier in the year, we had told them we wanted to break team records for scores,” Dzadius said. 

On top of Smith’s individual records, the whole team broke a record as well. They set the new highest score for the total highest team score in a single match with a score of 807. They set the new record on Jan. 6 against Westview. 

“We have broken the team record several times this year already, but most recently we beat it by over 50 which is really impressive, so we were all really happy,” Smith said. 

“They keep a really good attitude and they take coaching really well which is one of the biggest things,” Dziadus said. 

No team is successful without a good team culture, something this team knows well. 

“I love being part of the Marian bowling team because it is so much fun to hang out with my friends, eat food and bowl together. I love how my teammates are so encouraging,” Smith said. 

“I’m most proud of their attitude. They want to do well and they keep getting better, so it’s great to see that,” Dziadus said. 

Like last year, the team has its sights set on State. The 2024-25 season was the first year the whole team made it to the state competition and finished in fifth place. They also took one bowler to the individual competition at state and hope to take more this year. 

“I think that as a team we need to work on baker games to prepare for state. Individually, I think I need to just focus on throwing the ball well and not getting in my head too much,” Smith said. 

“Like last year, we started to peak at the right time, and I think we’re on that trajectory again,” Dziadus said. 

With so much success already, the bowling team will continue working towards a state championship this February.