State Bowling Feature: Indians prepare for state

It is very evident from the get-go the Hillsboro bowling program isn't about individual accolades or just playing for the sake of playing a sport.  

The team of eight boys bowlers who qualified to state as a team and the one girl who qualified as well all play for the team. Their number-one goal this season was to qualify for the Division I State Bowling Tournament, and for the boys team, they achieved that goal. 

The girls were under 80 pins away from earning a chance at the state tournament, but the boys reached their team goal, and on Saturday, they will see what can happen at the state tournament in Columbus at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl. 

The goal is simple for the Indians, who reached the state tournament just three years into the program, and that is to finish in the Top 8 and reach the finals as a team. 

Being the district runners-up, the Hillsboro boys team consists of seniors Chris Karnes and Garrett McCoppin; juniors Jaxsun Miller, Travis Carter and Chris Jeter; and sophomores Hunter Lowe, Sajoun Jones and Tyler King.  

The lone lady to qualify for the girls tournament as an individual is freshman Madalyn Miller.  

Looking at the path taken by the Indians to reach state, it didn't just start this season, but it began in the 2012-13 season, the first year the Indians had their current bowling program, and last season where HHS played in the district tournament.  

Actually, this process of building a state-qualifying program began with the youth leagues in Hillsboro. 

"We hit the ground running with the program," HHS head coach Jeff Miller said. "We had a really strong youth program that we've been feeding off of. We have a lot of kids from different athletic backgrounds.  

"We don't have kids who just bowl … we have kids who play basketball, wrestling, things of that nature. Most of our kids play another sport in another season, so they are athletes all the way around. Our youth program just keeps putting out more and more talent each year."

This season, Coach Miller wanted his kids to focus on the mental aspects of bowling.

"We have sport shots now, which is a much more challenging oil pattern than the usual house shot,” he said There are thousands of oil patterns that pros bowl on, and that's what we are using to help our youth prepare to what they are going to see down the road. We don't want them to be blinded by it, and it is a mental grind to get players used to those type of patterns."

For the 2014-15 season the Indians, however, the consensus was the boys came together as a team more than they've even been, not only competing against their foes on their schedule, but each other as well, because the competition against each other was what was best for the program.  

"Being here all three years, it has been nice to see us improve each year," senior Chris Karnes told The Highland County Press. "Our coaches have been great, as they are there to help us when we need it, but the best thing is seeing us become a family. 

"Whether we win or lose, we are in this together. Even if one individual moves on, we are still thinking about each other and showing our support."

Teammate Travis Carter also spoke about this season and what it has been like to go through the grind of not only the postseason, but the regular season as well. 

"We've worked really hard to get where we are," Carter said. "We've won a lot, but we've lost a little. Our practices have helped a lot by bowling on a lot of different sports patterns.  

"This year, we've done a lot more tournaments compared to before, and that has helped us be prepare for this Saturday at state. Getting this far, it had meant a lot to the team. It has really amazed me to see how this has progressed, but we've taken this season step-by-step with sectionals, district and now state."

Chris Jeter, who is in his second season in the program, also spoke about how this season has gone for the state-bound Indians.

"It has been very exciting," Jeter said. "It was definitely an improvement from last year. Our team averages have gone up a lot, and we've been consistent, which has helped tremendously." 

Karnes, who led the Indians with a 666 score at the district tournament, also spoke about the team qualifying for the state tournament.

"At first, we didn't know how well we were going to do, but we knew we were going to try our best," he said. "We were happy to make state, and it will be fun to see how far we can go on from here."

Sajoun Jones described the moment he knew the Indians were state-bound as "great."

"There were some teams we thought that could beat us, and we blew them out of the water," Jones said. "Districts has really helped our confidence … it really makes us feel like we can do this at state.

"Our goal is to finish in the Top 8 at state … it would mean everything." 

Senior Garrett McCoppin (who has been in the program for two years) explained the moment the Indians qualified to state as a "shocker."

"It was a shocker, but we do have a good team, so it wasn't a complete surprise," he said. "It is awesome to reach state with a small team like we have, compared to others that we face. 

"We are also one of the younger teams, and we surprise teams once we face them. It was definitely thrilling when we heard our name announced."

Qualifying for state wasn't easy by any means, as McCoppin stated there was a lot of work that went into the Indians playing well enough to earn the spot at state.

"We worked hard this year," McCoppin said. "We took things a lot more seriously this year. We bowled on different patterns, put in practice everyday … a lot of work went into it."

Many of the boys bowlers spoke about one tournament in particular over all the others that changed everything this season and really set forth the path to the state tournament. 

That tournament, which used professional bowling patterns similar to what will be used in the state tournament, was the Team USA Experience Tournament at Poelking Lanes South in Centerville on Saturday, Dec. 20. 

In that event, the Indians won by defeating Beavercreek, Mentor and Northmont Clayton in the finals, as there were a total of 22 teams in the event.

"When we won that tournament, it was the greatest moment of the year," three-year bowler and team captain Jaxsun Miller said. "Going into the final match, we didn't get nervous … we were pumped."

King also spoke about that win.

"Winning against a lot of big schools … it was interesting," he said. "We beat a lot of schools who can qualify for state, and that added to our confidence."

Assistant coach Shane Ison gave his thoughts on the Team USA Experience. 

"We made sure we had the kids bowl in more tournament this year … that was a priority for us headed into the season," Ison said. "The Team USA Experience tournament was held right before Christmas, and with the kids winning, it gave them the confidence they could compete. 

"Going into the tournament, we gave our kids the goal of making the cut, and with them winning it, hopefully this weekend it is the same idea. If they can make the final eight, the tournament switches over to match play, and then they seem to thrive in that format."

That tournament was just one part of the season, but that win against state qualifiers from the 2013-14 season only helped bring the Indians closer as a unit as they did qualify for state.

"The team bond has improved a lot since last year, and the results have shown that," King said. "Just qualifying for state has been a really nice feeling … it's something you can't put into words easily.

"A lot of work went into the goal of making state. Everybody put in a lot of work."

Back to the work aspect. That part of the season, knowing the success hasn't come easily, isn't lost on the Indians, as sophomore Hunter Lowe also talked about just what it took for the Tribe to reach state. 

"We've improved so much compared to last year," Lowe said. "It has been a good season. We have been working together more and playing to where we compete with each other, instead of playing off what our opponent does. 

"It has been a lot more competitive, where a lot more teams we played have been together longer. We've been able to keep up with them, showing them we are good also. I really want us to compete and have fun."

Not to be outdone by the boys, Maddy Miller qualified to the state tournament as an individual on the girls side, but the freshman team captain showed a lot of maturity by sending the conversation to more about her team, rather than herself. 

"Finding out that I qualified for state was sad at first, because when they called my name it meant our team didn't make it," she said. "But I guess I was still happy, but I'd rather go as a team than by myself."

Coach Miller spoke about the freshman. 

"She has been a rock for us all year long," he said. "When she started out this season, she didn't know what to expect. I tried to explain how intense the program is, and about the third weekend of match play, she has been unstoppable since.

"She has the highest average in school history as a freshman and was second in the SCOL, second to a senior from Miami Trace."

Maddy has a match play average of 179, but on sports shots, she has an average of 191.

"For an average to go up on sports patterns is very difficult," Coach Miller said. "She was disappointed that her team didn't make it … she wanted the whole team to go."

Miller described her district performance as "bowling OK."

"We expected dryer lanes, but it was a little slicker that day, so it took us a little longer to adjust to everything," Miller said. "It was a good experience though. My season as a whole was fun. I have a lot more knowledge about the game, and my mental part of the game has improved a lot, which really has helped overall.

"My expectations are high for state, but it will all come down to if I hit my marks … anything can happen."

Coach Miller said there are few things more gratifying than seeing an entire season come together, not just on the lanes, but in the classroom as well. 

"To make it to the state is a great accomplishment, but the greatest accomplishment this year is we had no academic issues … every one of our bowlers were eligible, and even making it to the state tournament … I consider that more of an accomplishment than anything we've accomplished on the lanes. 

"Bowling has helped kids keep their grades up so they can stay eligible, and that is gratifying to know. We could go win it all on Saturday, and the kids keeping their grades up is the best accomplishment we can have."

Coach Miller ended by talking about what he wants his team to gain from this state experience. 

"No matter where we finish, I want us to have good sportsmanship, stay gracious and be a class act all the way through," he said. "That will say a lot about them in life … to remain humble and always try your best."