Everyone is talking about sports, but not just about any sport. It’s about both girls’ and boys’ bowling teams working hard to win Region and go to state this year.

The girls’ and boys’ teams both placed first in regionals this year, along with placing in the Pre-regional Tournament and winning against Taylor County. Regionals took place Jan. 23-25, hosted at the Elizabethtown B&B Lanes by North Hardin.

Many bowlers can experience nervousness while getting up on the approach; however, girls’ coach Sherry Logsdon shares some advice that many bowlers can live by.

“You are bowling against yourself, always striving to improve your own score,” Logsdon said.

Abigail Williams, a junior on the bowling team, said that she was really happy about their win. Williams explained that the girls lost a couple of matches throughout the season, so she was nervous of how they were going to do in regionals.

“I expected the win from the boys’ team, but I was a little hesitant with the girls,” Williams said, “but I’m really happy that we also won.”

The boys and girls on the bowling teams always bonded by cheering each other on.

“We have a great group of bowlers. We have fun, enjoy the game, and try to leave the pressure and stress at home,” Logsdon said.

Senior Paden Monnette shared his favorite memory throughout his years bowling was “always the semi-finals.”

Monnette knew that in regionals they needed to win. There was one team the boys had not played much. They had played all the other teams so they already knew how the boys’ bowling team would do up against them but this team was more of a mystery. They had to play five rounds before they won and usually it took only three rounds. It was a big achievement for the team.

“We gave the coach [Dayton Epperson] a big old hug afterward,” Monnette said.

The boys’ and girls’ bowling teams went to state because of wrecking the competition and completing a great season. The boys and girls traveled to Louisville on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11. The event was hosted at Kingpin Lanes and the boys placed in the top eight.

Unfortunately, the girls and unified teams’ state matches were canceled due to weather. They have been rescheduled for Feb. 26.

After a long day at state, the boys came home and their season came to an end.

“We made it past the first round and then we played the Covington team,” Monnette said. “They weren’t a better team, they were just better that day.”

Monnette explained that, in high school events, the atmosphere is different from bowling on your own. It’s more competitive.

The bowling teams practiced every Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Monnette and Williams both practice almost every day to get stronger in their skills.

Both teams also went to tougher competitions outside of Elizabethtown to help train themselves. This gave them tougher competition so they could know what they needed to improve on. They didn’t travel as much this year with all the snow, but they did go to Bowling Green and Louisville.

Overall, the bowling team worked hard to get where they were at. Like Monnette said, they only got this far because they had, “a lot of hard work and teamwork.”