Next year, Goodrich High School will officially become part of an up-and-coming high school sport.
The Goodrich bowling club, which has been in existence at the high school for the past two years, will become a varsity sport beginning with the 2004-05 season. They will be considered a winter sport.
This season was the first in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sanctioned bowling as a varsity sport. The season ran from Dec. 1 to Feb. 21, with regionals Feb. 27-28 and finals March 5-6.
In 2002-03, the Martians fielded a boys bowling team, with 10 players on the team. This year, there was enough interest so that a 10-member girls team was added.
The Martians competed in the Flint Metro Bowling League with traditional Genesee Area Conference rivals such as Hamady, New Lothrop, Montrose and LakeVille. Their meets were held at Grand Blanc Lanes.
Jim Kitto and Clint Densham coach the boys team, while Kelly Bretzloff and Densham coach the girls team.
Bretzloff said she expects more people to try out for the sport in the future. ‘The more kids hear about it, the more they want to sign up,? she said.
She also said with the exception of a $20 sanctioning fee, the bowlers did not have to worry about expenses.
‘These last two years were at no cost to the students,? she said. ‘The bowling establishments furnish everything ? practice time, house equipment, Saturday meets and bowling shirts.?
The young men and women in the club have enjoyed their experience.
‘A couple of friends mentioned to me that the bowling club was starting, and asked if I wanted to sign up,? said senior Matt Truax, a two-year member of the bowling club who was the captain of this year’s boys team.
Truax also said he thinks the move to official varsity sport status will help attract more people to the GHS bowling team.
GHS freshman Ashley Marston said she saw the club as a logical extension of one of her hobbies. ‘I’ve been bowling for eight years, and I wanted to continue doing it,? she said.