High school bowling: Dover paves way in Tuscarawas

One way to get a sports program started is to keep asking for it.

And keep asking for it.

And keep asking for it.

That’s what a group of Dover High students did in their efforts to establish a bowling team.

And their persistence has paid off.

Although high school bowling exists at Carrollton and Sandy Valley high schools, the formation of the Dover team is believed to be a first in Tuscarawas County.

Freshman Logan Ladrach is the ringleader of the Tornado bunch.

“I just kept asking Mr. Keffer (Dover athletic director Kevin) about it,” said Ladrach. “I told him what I wanted to do and told me about how to do it. I just kept telling him there was enough interest at Dover to start a team.”

Joining Ladrach on the eight-member squad are fellow freshmen Kade Rainsberg and A.J. Solvey, sophomore Philip Fischio, juniors Nick LeMay and Lacey Kinsey and seniors Thomas Burlett and Justin Crone.

Veteran bowler Steve     Scherer is the coach.

“This is all about students who wanted to start a high school bowling team,” said Scherer. “They along with (Wabash Lanes owner) Aaron (Shanklin) got the job done.”

“We’ve had some kids from other school districts wanting to bowl and we told them to do what we did,” said Scherer. “They have to go their schools and let them know they want bowling as a sport.”

Shanklin is hoping that will be the case across the river in New Philadelphia and well at Claymont, and surrounding communities.

“We can’t ask the kids if they want bowling,” stressed Shanklin. “The kids have to go to their schools and ask for it.”

Scherer said that the Tornado athletic department was receptive to the idea of a new sport joining the ranks.

“For something new, I think Mr. Keffer and the Dover administration have been receptive,” said Scherer. “We can’t thank them enough for their support.”

Keffer said there was enough interest from the students to warrant a team at Dover.

“The kids showed an interest and we were not going to deter that interest,” said Keffer, a former bowler himself. “We’re taking baby steps. We have a team this year and we’ll see where it goes.”

There is a track record at Dover showing that a new sport can take off.

Up until a few years ago, there was no such thing at Dover as girls’ golf and last season the Tornadoes finished as the state-runnerup in Division II.

Scherer said the Tornadoes are behind the 8-ball since the season started back in November.

“We formed late, but we’re hoping to pick up some matches,” said Scherer. “The kids are looking forward to it. Next year, we expect to bowl a full season.”

Practice began earlier this week at Wabash for the eight-member team.

During the hour-and-a-half practice session, the bowlers got familiar with the lanes and were given a crash course from Scherer on the ins and outs of the sport and to concentrate on strengthening their weaknesses.

“We’ve got some talent,” assessed Scherer. “There’s a lot of talent out there.”

Despite not forming until late, the Tornadoes will be able to participate in the postseason and that would include the Division I state tournament should any bowler advance.

“All we had to do was let the OHSAA know we wanted to get involved before the deadline,” said Scherer. “And we did that.”

Scherer said the expectations are simple.

“We just want to work on individual games and get our kids ready for the tournament,” said Scherer. “This is going to learning process of the game and the technical aspects of the game we’ll go from there.”

Reach Roger at 330-364-8427 or roger.metzger@timesreporter.com

On Twitter: @TRSportsguy.