Carson High School Bowling Looks To Get Back To Championship Form

The Carson High School Bowling Team fell off of its pedestal last year for the first time in 12 years. The team, which have been champions every year since its inception in 2000-2001, lost by one pin to the Reed High School Bowling Team in early 2012.

Now, coaches Vern Barnes, Kevin Costa, and David Lethcoe are looking to get the team back up on that championship track. The Carson team has a great mixture of veterans and new faces on the roster to steer this team back into the winners circle.

In an interview with coach Kevin Costa he said “We are obviously looking to win the whole thing. We have one of the best teams out there based on what we saw last week.” “This year we have six seniors and they are top on the team.”

Out of the 21 students on the roster, only 5 do not partake in local junior bowling leagues.

The five bowlers who are not in bowling leagues are bowling for the first time. Costa goes on to say about teaching kids with who have never bowled in competition: “It’s difficult because you have to teach your approach, you have to teach how to hold the ball, you have to get them bowling equipment so that their hand fits the same each time. We have been fortunate that both Carson Lanes and Gold Dust West have had older bowlers turn in their used equipment to get used by the juniors. Bill Baker at Carson Lanes has given the kids a break on getting the balls re-drilled.” “Most of the kids on the team this year have bowling equipment that has been used by somebody else.”

Carson High School does not recognize bowling as a letter sport, and Costa tells us that it’s not so much Carson High School stopping it from becoming a letter sport. “It’s Washoe County. If Washoe decides to make it a letter sport, then Carson High I believe will follow.” Costa says. “If Carson High goes out there and says ok, we’re going to have it a letter sport and Washoe County doesn’t do anything, we don’t have anybody to bowl against, and we would have to travel to Vegas, and that’s not going to happen. There are steps in place to make it a letter sport at some point in the future.”

Gold Dust West provides their lanes free of charge for the team to practice during the week. Carson Lanes has also done fundraisers for the team. “So we really do have the support of both places.” Costa said.

For 11 years, Carson High Bowling had not lost a match to a team. Last year they lost two matches for the first time in their history, one in the regular season and one in the championship round; both to Reed High School.

A lot of the credit goes to the junior leagues and their coaches for teaching the kids on how to bowl early so they are already good bowlers by the time they make it to high school.

Carson bowls their first match tonight against McQueen. We will have the numbers as soon as we get them.

Below is the roster list (as provided by the team) so you can see who they are:

2012-2013 Carson High Bowling Team:

Christopher Baird (Freshman)
Ryker Been (Senior)
Kaleb Beer Van Meter (Freshman)
Skyler Belcher (Freshman)
Kati Ceragioli (Freshman)
Steven Costa (Senior)
Alec Fletcher (Freshman)
Kyle Lethcoe (Senior)
Tyler Lethcoe (Freshman)
Delores Luster (Senior)
Briana Mathiesen (Senior)
Anthony Merlin (Freshman)
Ricky Merlin (Senior)
Billy Myer (Sophomore)
Eugene Mills (Freshman)
Garrett Nicholson (Sophomore)
Brett Paulson (Sophomore)
Elijah Rosario (Freshman)
Clayton Sollberger (Freshman)
Ethan Spence (Senior)
Jacob Zumbro (Junior)

Coaches:

Vern Barnes (12th Year; Silver Level Certified Coach)
Kevin Costa (3rd Year; Bronze Level Certified Coach)
David Lethcoe (2nd Year; Bronze Level Certified Coach)

2012-2013 Match Schedule:

12/5/12: vs. McQueen @ National Bowling Stadium
12/11/12: vs. Reed @ Starlight Lanes
12/19/12: vs. Damonte Ranch @ Grand Sierra Resort
1/9/13: vs. Hug @ High Sierra Lanes
1/24/13: vs. Wooster @ Coconut Bowl
1/31/13 vs. Manouge @ Grand Sierra Lanes
2/9/13 vs. North Valleys @ Gold Dust West
2/13/13 – 2/27/13 Playoffs