Boys State Bowling Feature: Hillsboro Indians return to state as improved team
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians boys bowling team has continued their tradition of reaching the state tournament once again, and for the 2020-21 Indians, they want to improve at state from their performance from a season ago.
So much has changed for the Indians in a span of a year, as they — like every other team in the state — had to deal not only with the COVID-19 restrictions, but then there was also a lot of inclement weather in recent weeks, which changed the schedule of later matches.
Through all of that, and replacing some starting bowlers that helped the team reach state last season, the Hillsboro Indians are back at the Division II State Championship Tournament this weekend with redemption on their mind from last season’s performance. They also just want to continue their success built from this season, as they are the Frontier Athletic Conference champions, sectional champions, and they were also the district champion.
The Indians who qualified for state this year are seniors Zach Burns and Jawuan Jones; juniors Blaine Bledsoe and Hunter Springer; and sophomores Zach Ison and Ovid Wilson. Ison and Springer were first and second place at districts last weekend, with the sophomore Ison winning the district championship as an individual, while Springer was the district runner-up.
“It’s been great,” Hillsboro head coach Dan Snapp said of the team this season. “They’ve really worked hard. Here toward the end, we’ve been working on spares, and I think that’s the thing that’s come through and helped us at the end was making the spares.”
Coach Snapp also spoke about how the Indians are the true definition of “a team.”
“They’re a team. If one of them makes a bad shot, you’ll hear them: ‘I got you. I got it.’ The other ones don’t bat an eye,” he said. “They pick up where the other one let down a little bit, and they carry each other. It is a great team, good attitudes, and they pick up the next person and go on.”
Assistant coach Shane Ison also spoke about the Indians and their season this year.
”The boys started off actually with some expectations of being down a little bit because we lost three of our seniors last year, but to be honest, they’re averaging higher this season as a team than what they did last season,” Coach Ison said. “I think they’ve kind of exceeded the expectations a little bit. We’re a little bit younger this year. We have two starters that got to bowl some last year at varsity, but not starting positions.
“They’ve filled in really nice, and that was Zach Burns and Ovid Wilson. They came in as nonstarters last year to fill those spots that we lost last year, and they’ve done a really good job. Obviously, Hunter, Zach and Jawaun were starters last year, and they’ve improved on their averages and ability this season compared to last season. It’s kind of worked out well.”
Each HHS bowler spoke about the season and being in the state tournament once again, as all six bowlers have all been a part of a state team during their high school careers:
Jawaun Jones, senior (3rd year at state)
• On most exciting part of senior year
“Leaving this place knowing that I’m not worried for them. Knowing that I believe they still have all the talent left in the world for them to go. I believe they can handle themselves once I’m gone.”
• On continuing tradition and his senior year
“It’s really important because it’s like, especially with COVID around, it’s the one place where I feel like I can just put everything behind and just be myself and not have to worry about what’s going on around the world. It’s like a big family, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
• On difference from first year to last year
“I would say this year I’m a two-handed bowler now. I was only one-handed. I’m not afraid like I was when I first started, and now I’m not in my own little bubble, like as a freshman, I was kind of shy. I like have a spotlight on me now.”
• On what he’s looking forward to at state
“Seeing my guys not having any regret. Not having any regret of getting here and not being afraid. Believing in each other. I’m proud of what my guys, what my team has gone through and how we’ve gotten through it. We’ve been through a rough spot, and I’m proud that they’ve been able to keep strong enough and get through it. This time, we’ve just got to bring the trophy back this time around.”
Zach Burns, senior (2nd year at state)
• On change from last time at state
“This year I’m starting. Last year I was like the sixth person, so if one of them was doing bad, I was the next person to go in. I had to be more reliable (this year) and more trustworthy for my teammates.”
• On how he improved his game
“Over the summer I bowled a lot more, and I joined a league over the summer. That kind of helped me out. I worked at trying to stay consistent. My younger self, I was everywhere and threw the ball wherever I felt like.”
• On difference of the team this year
“We’re a young team compared to last year. We lost two seniors last year, and we’ll be losing two seniors this year, so it’s basically a rebuilding year for like young people. The younger kids are pretty good. They make me work extra hard because I have to work to keep my spot.”
• On moment felt everything started clicking for team
“When we bowled FAC, our league meet. We started shooting scores we should’ve been shooting the whole season. This season’s been fun. I’ll miss it next year, but after my years are over, this team should still be the best team out there.”
Hunter Springer, junior (3rd year at state)
• On season as an individual
“I’ve gotten a lot better. My freshman year, I think I averaged 202, and then sophomore year was something close that. This year, I averaged 219, so I bowl a lot better than I have. I just bowl a lot. I’m in here (the bowling alley) like all the time, every day. It is paying off.”
• On how the Indians made state
“All the practices we do and spare shooting. We practice spares a lot, and that has really made a difference with our team.”
• On bowling at state once again
“I’m just ready to bowl at state again. It’ll be my third year. My first two years, I was kind of like excited and I wouldn’t say scared, but nervous. This year, I think I’ll be a lot better, instead of nervous. I feel a lot more confident. This was a goal of ours.”
Blaine Bledsoe, junior (3rd year at state)
• On improving his game this season
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better, but bowling as a sport is very complex, and the more you bowl, the harder it gets. You learn more about the lanes and the oil, and different factors play a role in the mental game of bowling. My spare shooting has improved tremendously because that’s what I mainly worked on this year, to improve my overall average. On top of that, I learned some more about my strike shots with the new balls that I got.”
• On team being younger compared to past seasons
“Actually, I think it helped us bond, and maybe helped form the team a little bit better.”
• On favorite aspects of this season
“Honestly, just creating with my friends and having a good time bowling and learning more about sport. I’m honestly just hoping that we can place better than we did last year.”
Ovid Wilson, sophomore (2nd year at state)
• On team improvement and team chemistry
“Every year, I think it will get better, but it’s great because I really developed a bond with our seniors. I’m glad I get to send them out with a bang. I’m hoping we can win it for them.”
• On most exciting part of season
“The most exciting part of the season is just getting to be around my friends. I’ve just really developed a bond with everybody. The most exciting part to me is that I get to spend time with my friends.”
• On individual game improving
“Monumentally, yes. Last year I struggled to get going. This year I found it and never lost stride. I improved my average by almost 20 pins. My average right now I’d say is around a 185.”
• On being part of HHS program
“It’s honestly the best of everything. One, it makes me work harder, and two, just being a part of this team and this whole experience is making me better. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Zach Ison, sophomore (2nd year at state)
• On individual season
“This season’s gone really well for me individually. I’ve had a lot of achievements this year. This year, I’ve averaged 217 in the FAC. I’ve gotten the district champ individual with my teammate Hunter Springer as district runner-up, and I’m looking forward to bringing home one of those titles from state as well.”
• On improvement from last year and team unity
“I’ve improved a lot on spare shooting. My total average is about the same, but spare shooting has definitely went up this year. Practicing spare shooting has definitely helped a lot for everybody. Bowling leagues over the summer with my team has helped team unity, and just practicing with the right mindset has helped everybody with accuracy and mental game.”
• On winning the district title
“It was amazing, especially to see my teammate get second by one pin. It was pretty fun, and It was a goal. I told my coach at the beginning of the season last year, I’ve got a goal of a silver medal. I wanted a gold medal this year.”
• On what he's looking forward to at state
“I’m looking forward to just making good shots with my team and seeing us all succeed. We all look like we can throw the ball pretty good on this pattern so far, so I’m looking forward to a lot of good shots Saturday. I’d just like to say how I appreciate how much we’ve come together, like with all the COVID restrictions and masks and stuff. I feel like we’ve done a really good job as a team, as a whole, conquering that challenge.”
So much has changed for the Indians in a span of a year, as they — like every other team in the state — had to deal not only with the COVID-19 restrictions, but then there was also a lot of inclement weather in recent weeks, which changed the schedule of later matches.
Through all of that, and replacing some starting bowlers that helped the team reach state last season, the Hillsboro Indians are back at the Division II State Championship Tournament this weekend with redemption on their mind from last season’s performance. They also just want to continue their success built from this season, as they are the Frontier Athletic Conference champions, sectional champions, and they were also the district champion.
The Indians who qualified for state this year are seniors Zach Burns and Jawuan Jones; juniors Blaine Bledsoe and Hunter Springer; and sophomores Zach Ison and Ovid Wilson. Ison and Springer were first and second place at districts last weekend, with the sophomore Ison winning the district championship as an individual, while Springer was the district runner-up.
“It’s been great,” Hillsboro head coach Dan Snapp said of the team this season. “They’ve really worked hard. Here toward the end, we’ve been working on spares, and I think that’s the thing that’s come through and helped us at the end was making the spares.”
Coach Snapp also spoke about how the Indians are the true definition of “a team.”
“They’re a team. If one of them makes a bad shot, you’ll hear them: ‘I got you. I got it.’ The other ones don’t bat an eye,” he said. “They pick up where the other one let down a little bit, and they carry each other. It is a great team, good attitudes, and they pick up the next person and go on.”
Assistant coach Shane Ison also spoke about the Indians and their season this year.
”The boys started off actually with some expectations of being down a little bit because we lost three of our seniors last year, but to be honest, they’re averaging higher this season as a team than what they did last season,” Coach Ison said. “I think they’ve kind of exceeded the expectations a little bit. We’re a little bit younger this year. We have two starters that got to bowl some last year at varsity, but not starting positions.
“They’ve filled in really nice, and that was Zach Burns and Ovid Wilson. They came in as nonstarters last year to fill those spots that we lost last year, and they’ve done a really good job. Obviously, Hunter, Zach and Jawaun were starters last year, and they’ve improved on their averages and ability this season compared to last season. It’s kind of worked out well.”
Each HHS bowler spoke about the season and being in the state tournament once again, as all six bowlers have all been a part of a state team during their high school careers:
Jawaun Jones, senior (3rd year at state)
• On most exciting part of senior year
“Leaving this place knowing that I’m not worried for them. Knowing that I believe they still have all the talent left in the world for them to go. I believe they can handle themselves once I’m gone.”
• On continuing tradition and his senior year
“It’s really important because it’s like, especially with COVID around, it’s the one place where I feel like I can just put everything behind and just be myself and not have to worry about what’s going on around the world. It’s like a big family, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
• On difference from first year to last year
“I would say this year I’m a two-handed bowler now. I was only one-handed. I’m not afraid like I was when I first started, and now I’m not in my own little bubble, like as a freshman, I was kind of shy. I like have a spotlight on me now.”
• On what he’s looking forward to at state
“Seeing my guys not having any regret. Not having any regret of getting here and not being afraid. Believing in each other. I’m proud of what my guys, what my team has gone through and how we’ve gotten through it. We’ve been through a rough spot, and I’m proud that they’ve been able to keep strong enough and get through it. This time, we’ve just got to bring the trophy back this time around.”
Zach Burns, senior (2nd year at state)
• On change from last time at state
“This year I’m starting. Last year I was like the sixth person, so if one of them was doing bad, I was the next person to go in. I had to be more reliable (this year) and more trustworthy for my teammates.”
• On how he improved his game
“Over the summer I bowled a lot more, and I joined a league over the summer. That kind of helped me out. I worked at trying to stay consistent. My younger self, I was everywhere and threw the ball wherever I felt like.”
• On difference of the team this year
“We’re a young team compared to last year. We lost two seniors last year, and we’ll be losing two seniors this year, so it’s basically a rebuilding year for like young people. The younger kids are pretty good. They make me work extra hard because I have to work to keep my spot.”
• On moment felt everything started clicking for team
“When we bowled FAC, our league meet. We started shooting scores we should’ve been shooting the whole season. This season’s been fun. I’ll miss it next year, but after my years are over, this team should still be the best team out there.”
Hunter Springer, junior (3rd year at state)
• On season as an individual
“I’ve gotten a lot better. My freshman year, I think I averaged 202, and then sophomore year was something close that. This year, I averaged 219, so I bowl a lot better than I have. I just bowl a lot. I’m in here (the bowling alley) like all the time, every day. It is paying off.”
• On how the Indians made state
“All the practices we do and spare shooting. We practice spares a lot, and that has really made a difference with our team.”
• On bowling at state once again
“I’m just ready to bowl at state again. It’ll be my third year. My first two years, I was kind of like excited and I wouldn’t say scared, but nervous. This year, I think I’ll be a lot better, instead of nervous. I feel a lot more confident. This was a goal of ours.”
Blaine Bledsoe, junior (3rd year at state)
• On improving his game this season
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better, but bowling as a sport is very complex, and the more you bowl, the harder it gets. You learn more about the lanes and the oil, and different factors play a role in the mental game of bowling. My spare shooting has improved tremendously because that’s what I mainly worked on this year, to improve my overall average. On top of that, I learned some more about my strike shots with the new balls that I got.”
• On team being younger compared to past seasons
“Actually, I think it helped us bond, and maybe helped form the team a little bit better.”
• On favorite aspects of this season
“Honestly, just creating with my friends and having a good time bowling and learning more about sport. I’m honestly just hoping that we can place better than we did last year.”
Ovid Wilson, sophomore (2nd year at state)
• On team improvement and team chemistry
“Every year, I think it will get better, but it’s great because I really developed a bond with our seniors. I’m glad I get to send them out with a bang. I’m hoping we can win it for them.”
• On most exciting part of season
“The most exciting part of the season is just getting to be around my friends. I’ve just really developed a bond with everybody. The most exciting part to me is that I get to spend time with my friends.”
• On individual game improving
“Monumentally, yes. Last year I struggled to get going. This year I found it and never lost stride. I improved my average by almost 20 pins. My average right now I’d say is around a 185.”
• On being part of HHS program
“It’s honestly the best of everything. One, it makes me work harder, and two, just being a part of this team and this whole experience is making me better. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Zach Ison, sophomore (2nd year at state)
• On individual season
“This season’s gone really well for me individually. I’ve had a lot of achievements this year. This year, I’ve averaged 217 in the FAC. I’ve gotten the district champ individual with my teammate Hunter Springer as district runner-up, and I’m looking forward to bringing home one of those titles from state as well.”
• On improvement from last year and team unity
“I’ve improved a lot on spare shooting. My total average is about the same, but spare shooting has definitely went up this year. Practicing spare shooting has definitely helped a lot for everybody. Bowling leagues over the summer with my team has helped team unity, and just practicing with the right mindset has helped everybody with accuracy and mental game.”
• On winning the district title
“It was amazing, especially to see my teammate get second by one pin. It was pretty fun, and It was a goal. I told my coach at the beginning of the season last year, I’ve got a goal of a silver medal. I wanted a gold medal this year.”
• On what he's looking forward to at state
“I’m looking forward to just making good shots with my team and seeing us all succeed. We all look like we can throw the ball pretty good on this pattern so far, so I’m looking forward to a lot of good shots Saturday. I’d just like to say how I appreciate how much we’ve come together, like with all the COVID restrictions and masks and stuff. I feel like we’ve done a really good job as a team, as a whole, conquering that challenge.”