Talk about a tough draw.
Last season, Sequim High’s bowling squad drew matches against some of the best teams in the state. This season? About the same.
But first-year head coach Randy Perry says there’s reason to believe Sequim is ready to bowl with the best.
Sequim returns four of its top six bowlers from a 2007-2008 squad looking to improve upon a 1-13 record.
Leading the Wolfpack is Johanna Ewing, who rolled a team-high 140.2 pins per game and twice topped 300 in a two-game series. She had Sequim’s top score six times in 14 matches last season.
Also back is Samantha
Whiteside, who knocked down 120.9 pins per game in limited varsity action as Sequim’s No. 2 bowler.
Breanna Krumpe (113.8 pins per game) and Dun Quach (111.8) round out a solid starting four.
They’ll need it: Sequim faces defending state 2A-3A state champion Bremerton and fourth-place finisher Olympic three times each this season. The Wolves were 0-3 against Olympic and 0-2 against Bremerton last year, losing all five in shutouts.
The Wolves managed to beat Peninsula High of Gig Harbor late in the season last year, a 6-1 victory. The match showed how the Wolves improved; in two previous matches, Sequim lost a 7-0 game to Peninsula to open the season and 4-3 to the Seahawks three weeks later before recording the win.
Gone is last year’s coach Dave Ditlefsen, who is now Sequim High School’s athletic director. In is Perry, a 30-year veteran of the lanes who carries a 210 average, two lifetime 300 games and a top three-game series of 814.
"I want to install a more competitive spirit in the girls; they’re not used to that," Perry says. "I want to get Sequim bowling on the map. That’s going to happen when we surprise a couple of other teams."
Since the team’s inaugural season in 2001-2002, the Wolves are 24-48, their lone winning season coming in 2004-2005 when they went 8-1 and took eighth at the district tourney.
Perry said he can see Sequim bowling gaining momentum, particularly with 10 returning bowlers.
In two early season matches, Sequim already has matched its win total from last year with a 7-0 shutout of North Mason Nov. 20.
"They are all basically new bowlers to me (and) they all have potential," Perry said. "It always seems that when we go out, someone new does something they haven’t done before."
Perry said Klahowya, a team Sequim hasn’t beaten in two years, is a team the Wolves are aiming for.
"All the girls are going to have to be on," Perry said. "If we can get up around 700 (we can beat them)."
Perry says he’s also planning a bowl-a-thon to raise money for the school program. Funds raised would buy bowling balls, bags and shoes that would stay Sequim High property beyond the season.
Sequim High School bowling
Head coach: Randy Perry (first year)
2007-08 record: 1-13, sixth at sub-district tournament
Returners: Johanna Ewing, Samantha Whiteside, Breanna Krumpe, Dung Quach, Katelyn Campen, Alexandra Whiteside, Sarah Hogaboom, Hope Haabala, Lindsey Moore, Katelyn Edwards
New to the team: Jorene Dick, Kim Duce, Brandi Gaddis, Crystal Trammell
Outlook: With four strong returning players and plenty of others with junior varsity experience, the Wolves are sure to improve their record from last season. Expect at least a half-dozen wins from the resurgent Sequim squad.
