Students at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn who are interested in participating in bowling through the school will no longer have to do it in conjunction with Sioux Central. The HMS school board gave its approval to the establishment of an HMS bowling program beginning with the winter sports season of 2022-23. The decision was made at the board’s regular meeting February 21.
Figures were presented at the meeting that indicate 13 boys and four girls in grades 8-11 are interested in bowling for the 2022-23 season. The subject of a bowling program was discussed by the board last May but at that time only four boys and three girls had expressed interest. Six bowlers are required for a full team, so the board then chose to continue the sharing agreement the district had with Sioux Central. That agreement will now not be renewed.
Bert van Dam, who owns Locomotion Lanes in Sanborn, and Eric Mastbergen have been working to increase interest in the sport among the area youth. At the board meeting, van Dam said that he and Julia Meyer of Hartley plan to become certified coaches. Locomotion Lanes will serve as the site for home events on the HMS schedule.
High school principal Nate Hemiller told the board that scheduling and finding coaches were important factors in establishing the program and that he thinks the school has what it needs to start the program. Hemiller helped to bring about the North Iowa bowling program when he served as that district’s athletic director.
Despite the comparative lack of numbers for the girls, it was the recommendation of HMS superintendent Patrick Carlin to have separate teams for the boys and girls for logistical and cost purposes.
Both Hemiller and Carlin acknowledged that maintaining participant numbers is important going forward. It is van Dam’s belief that the numbers will be there to sustain the program.