With a 7^th place finish in the Wildcat Invitational last Saturday, the girl’s bowling team opened its season with a burst of positivity and commitment.

It is an overall consensus among players that the main goal for this season is to successfully obtain a place for their team in state.

“My goals are to help my team achieve high placement during tournaments and meets,” junior Esmeralda Flores said.

“My goal is to get our team to state this season,” said sophomore Megan Allensworth.

The team hopes that their commitment and future progress will lead them to a successful season.

“Since we only have two returning full time varsity members, we need to work on our mental game. We need to realize that each week we bowl; we are gaining more and more experience,” Head Coach Connie McGrath said.

“We all need to focus on our mental game, so we can achieve greatness,” said Flores.

According to junior, Heather Petkewicz, the team needs to focus on consistency, especially since there are some changes this season.

“We have a new assistant coach this season, and that changes the dynamic of the team a little, especially since some of us were really close with our assistant coach from last year,” Allensworth said.

“It’s also very different without our seniors from last year because they were really great.”

However, the changes also provide the team with new fresh talent.

According to Petkewicz, the season is starting off with a “better group of girls that are friendlier to each other.”

“[The team] works really well together, we all get along,” senior Meghan Tatera said.

So far the team is undeterred in achieving their ultimate goal, even if they face adversity along the way.

“I feel this year is full of fun. I feel this team can achieve greatness as long as we stick together through hard times,” Flores said.

“I think we are a very strong team, and we surprised ourselves with how well we did at the Wildcat invite. If we just keep improving I think we can be a strong enough team to make it to state,” Allensworth said.

Their next meet is the Palatine Invite on Saturday, Dec.5 at 9a.m.