The Upperman Bees Girls Bowling Team will see tremors in their foundation with a new approach and new two-handed throw being added as the Bees look to defend their district championship.
Upperman Girls Bowling Head Coach Brent Green said he has noticed a traditional trend among female bowlers. Green realized that many female bowlers tend to throw with less hook, which has led to focus on simpler techniques using lighter bowling balls during the off-season.
“Most of the bowlers will buy a ball that fits their body size,” Green said. “A very small bowler will probably not be throwing a 14, 15, 16 pound bowling ball. They’ll be throwing one that [isn’t] a lot of weight.”
The Bees girls bowling team plans to throw straighter with a new approach. Upperman senior Olivia Naugle will shake up her approach this season as the only Bee to throw using a two handed method. The method allows for more forward rotation and lift more so it hooks faster, allowing the Bees to knock down more pins. Naugle finished with an average score of 170 last season using the approach.
“A lot of people think of it as spin but it’s the rotation that you get on a bowling ball,” Green said. “When they get more rotation on it, the ball will hook more. The two handed style lets a bowler throw the ball harder.”
Green added an assistant coach over the off-season to assist with the new styles and new players. Christy Napier comes over to the Bees after coaching at Hendersonville and Jamestown, leading both teams to district and state appearances.
“Adding her is going to help out our girls a huge amount,” Green said. “A lot of my bowlers have been practicing hard. We’ve got some new additions that we hope fill all pieces of the puzzle to help us win state this year.”
Upperman returns four upperclassmen heading into next season. Those four rank among the top scorers in the Upper Cumberland, averaging a 165 last season.
The Bees head into the new season as the defending district champions. Upperman will look to defend their title beginning October 20th as they face Warren County.
