Girls State Bowling Feature: Hillsboro Lady Indians’ focus on goals leads them to Div. I state tournament

The Hillsboro Lady Indians bowling team will compete in the 2021 Division I OHSAA State Championships Friday, March 5, and in doing so will cap off their season on the biggest stage in the state at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

This season, the Lady Indians were the champions of the Frontier Athletic Conference, plus district champions, which stamped their ticket to state. On the team this season are seniors Jazlen Jones and Selena Mingua; juniors Maddie Tomko and Taylor Jordan; and sophomores Lila Carter and Brianna Callahan.

As for the two seniors, in their four years on the varsity team they went undefeated in FAC matches.

This season was one where the Lady Indians not only had to battle the restrictions of COVID-19, but they also wanted to get past finishing in second place at districts, as they did last season. HHS accomplished both, as this season they are in the state round of the postseason.

First-year head coach Lucia Tomko spoke about her team and all that they’ve accomplished this season, especially improving on the mental part of the game.

“I was a parent before I was a coach. My daughter bowls, so I’ve watched this team and the girls for the last three years,” Coach Tomko said. “Bowling is more of a mental game. The skill needs to be there, but it was the mental part that I kind of felt like they were lacking the most last year. That’s what happened to us at districts. We just kind of self-destructed.

“This year, that was my goal. They all set goals of what they wanted their averages to be. I thought that was important that they all had a physical goal for bowling, but also a mental goal. What do I do when I make a bad shot? What are some strategies to use and things like that? I think it’s paid off.

“They are all competitive, and they are their own worst critic,” Tomko continued. “If you can get them out of their head — if they bowl when they’re having fun, they do 100-percent better. At districts (in 2021) we brought coloring pages, we brought UNO, things to distract them so they didn’t get in their heads. There’s a lot of downtime at those tournaments.”

What is the goal for Hillsboro at state this Friday?

“Our goal was to get back to state, and now our goal is to be top eight,” Coach Tomko said. “That’s our new goal. Obviously, our goal is to win it, but we’ll be happy with top eight.”

Assistant coach Shane Ison also talked about the girls team and their performance this season.

“Outstanding,” Ison said of the girls team. “They went undefeated, and obviously they went undefeated the last four years. Last year we had a bad taste in our mouths. We lost at districts by a few pins, very few, I know it was under 10. This year, they went back and redeemed themselves and made sure they got to the state finals this year, so I was really proud of the kids. Really proud of the kids.”

The team members of the Hillsboro girls bowling team also spoke about their season.

Jazlen Jones, senior

• On how her season has gone
“This season has been amazing. Obviously COVID has made it a little different. It’s not the same as it used to be, but we came out and went undefeated for the fourth time in a row for me, so it’s definitely been what I expected. I did place all-league this year, but I did not get as high as I did before. I was doing amazing in the beginning of the season, but then I had one bad match, so it kind of let my average drop. Overall, I did pretty good for myself. I think it was around 180 in the FAC, and then my overall average I do not know.”

• On COVID changes this year
“It’s been hard not to hear those certain people yell when we do our cheers. Like, when we’re away, we have nobody. It’s kind of been difficult. You just want to make sure that, since it’s my last season, my parents have caught like every moment we’ve done good.”

• On being a part of undefeated team again
“This season has definitely had to be the best one yet. These girls are amazing. It’s definitely going to be hard leaving the juniors behind. This team has definitely been unstoppable the last two years. We’ve had an amazing coach (Lucia Tomko) step up and become our coach. She’s done an amazing job for her first year, and I’m just so thankful for Shane (Ison) to be my coach again this year. They have just done an amazing job keeping us up and giving us the best coaching experience to keep us winning.”

• On favorite moment from this season
My favorite moment was probably at districts the other day, when I threw the very last shot in the Bakers when I was anchoring and I had to turn around and hug (Selena Mingua). That was the moment that probably — it just felt like we were on top of the world one last time. That was my best moment this year.”


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Selena Mingua, senior

 • On what has year been like individually
“Individually, the year has been not really the best for me, but I was able to make it second for All-FAC Bowler of the Year. I was second for that, but I did get it freshman and sophomore year.”

• On best moment from season
“I would have to say senior night. I signed with Shawnee State that night, so it was a pretty special night for me.”

• On what looking forward to at state
“I’m looking forward to seeing if the lanes are different or will be the same. I’m looking forward to competing against all the teams that will be there. I’m just looking forward to spending some more time with my girls.”

• On undefeated streak
“It’s really special. It really means a lot to me. Being undefeated is amazing.”

• On looking back at career and teammates
“All the girls have done a really good job of keeping themselves up. Like, if we know we’re down, they can keep themselves up, and I really think that’s something they should continue. As a senior, looking back, I wish I could go back to bowling that freshman year. I just hope they take advantage of all the bowling that they’re doing now. I’m sure that they will have a great future and a successful one.”

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Maddie Tomko, junior

• On how season has gone individually
“This year has, I think personally been my best year. I’ve bowled a lot better. My average was a lot higher, too. I think I averaged a 192, so that was a personal goal I wanted to reach. My goal was 195, so I was pretty close. Last year I had a 184, I believe, so I went up quite a few pins.”

• On what the season been like as a whole, making state
“It was a really big accomplishment I think for us a team, especially after last year. We struggled, and we were district runner-up. I think this year gave us a lot more confidence after winning districts. I think we have a good shot at state this year. I think we’ll do well.”

• On moment she felt game got better
“I picked up a lot more spares. I’ve worked on my spare shooting this year a lot. My corner pins have gotten a lot better, so I think that’s helped me improve my scores and allowed me to raise my average.”

• On team unity
“I think we definitely have some off days where maybe one of us is not bowling as well, but we also are good about picking each other up. If someone’s not bowling well, someone else is bowling well enough to replace their pins that they’re not performing or whatever. I think as a team, we do pretty well about picking each other up and keeping each other’s heads up.”

• On undefeated streak
“It’s something that I’m definitely proud of. I think it’s a big accomplishment that Jazlen and Selena have gone undefeated all four years. I’ve been undefeated since I’ve been in high school. It’s a good confidence booster.”

• On what looking forward to at state
“I know I’ll be nervous, but it’s always the adrenaline and excitement and just getting to be there is a great accomplishment to me. I think we’ll do well, and I’m excited to see how that all plays out.”

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Taylor Jordan, junior

• On what’s season been like individually
“I have definitely improved since last year. I’ve picked up more spares than last year and have a better attitude.”

• On being a part of undefeated team
“It has been like pretty exciting. It’s been pretty interesting, that’s for sure. There’s been a lot of crazy moments, happy, sad.”

• Does it feel different making state this year compared to first time
“Yes. It feels weird because there’s different people. We beat them a lot more at districts. I feel like we’re a better team this year, together-wise. I’m very proud of the team and how we come together when we really need to be and how well our coaches really bring up our attitude when we’re down and help us.”

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Lila Carter, sophomore

• On what it's like making state for first time
“It’s really cool. We’ve gotten to do a lot of things together. We’ve gotten closer toward the end of the season. It’s just been a really fun, great experience.”

• On what this season has been like compared to last year
“Freshman season, I was sitting there watching a lot. Our coach actually had me go down and kind of teach the JV team because she saw that I was so bored. Now, I’m starting every game. I’m trying my best, doing pretty good. It’s a lot different.”

• On improvement this season
“When I started, I was averaging 130, and then at the end I was 170-180. Now it’s 180-190. Definitely the positive vibes on the team have helped me improve. My coach, she’s been really supportive and friendly and kind of fair to all of us. That’s really helped. The team’s just the biggest part.”

• On how team being laid-back has helped this season
“There’s definitely been a lot of nerves, but we talk, we laugh, we get our mind off of it. It’s a good environment. I think my favorite part was at districts when one of our teammates was down, we picked each other up and we really just all kept each other up. Our moods were good, and we just didn’t let each other get down when one of us was getting nervous or upset their ball wasn’t working. The others would make a joke or we’d laugh or they’d go and not get a spare and one girl would strike and pick them up. It was really cool to watch.”

• On what it's like being a part of a close team
“We’re all friends, and we can joke around. It feels like one big family. It’s nice to know that when you’re having a problem you always have someone there to talk to. They try to understand, and if they know you’re going through that during bowling, they try to help and try to make sure you stay calm. They make everybody feel good when they need to feel good.”


• • •

Brianna Callahan, sophomore

• On season as a whole and going to state
“My best part of the season was that I was the anchor. I’ve improved my game this year compared to last season, and my favorite part of the season was to go to districts and making state.”

• On improvement this season
“Practice makes perfect. If you don’t practice enough, then you don’t really hit your mark as much. We all put in a lot of work this year, and it is paying off by making state.”

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