The Althoff bowling team entered the season with some question marks, but the early results have been encouraging.
The Crusader boys took a 3-4 record into this week's matches, while the girls were also 3-4.
Brandon Thompson, a state qualifier, was among the graduation losses for the boys team along with Derek Allison and John Schaberg. Thompson is attending Lindenwood University on a bowling scholarship.
The returning starters are junior Tucker Bartholomew and sophomore Matt Stubblefield.
"Tucker averaged 162 last year and has worked on his game in the offseason, so I expect his average to be higher this year," Crusaders coach Christy Gundlach said. "Matt averaged 174 last season and he's also improved. I look to them to be leaders this year."
Rounding out the lineup are seniors Andrew Goetz and Weston Hock and freshman Alex Kellogg. Bartholmew has a team-high 188 average, with Kellogg at 185 and Stubblefield at 181. Stubblefield earned all-conference honorable mention at the South Seven Tournament.
"Andrew bowled his freshman and sophomore years, then took a year off his junior year to swim, but he is back this year and doing well," Gundlach said. "This is Weston's first time bowling and he's improving daily. Alex is a hard worker and is capable of averaging around 190."
Freshman Elijah Beal could also see some varsity action.
The girls team, meanwhile, lost Carly Thomas to graduation, while Jamie Allen chose to be a cheerleader for her senior year. That leaves the Crusaders with three returning starters: senior Shea Lanaghan and juniors Danielle Fuido and Yoselin Munoz. The other varsity bowlers are senior Alana Nacar (in her first year on the squad) and junior Lindsay Phelps.
Lanaghan, who was also named honorable mention all-conference, leads the team with a 148 average, while Phelps is second at 142.
Other bowlers who could see action are juniors Sharrika Wyatt, Emily Feldker and Melissa Jaskowiak.
"The boys' goal is to have more wins than last year and finish the season at .500," Gundlach said. "We were 5-12 last year.
"The girls have already met their goal, which is to have more wins than last year, when we were 2-12-1."
