The Manhattan High bowling team had an eventful meet on Wednesday, Jan. 26, playing against Emporia, Washburn and Junction City. The Indians hosted a home meet, boys Varsity placing third, boys Junior Varsity placing fourth, and the girls varsity team did not place at all.

“The girls did not have a full team that day,” senior Leah Reid said. “We played individually, but did not place at all.”

The lack of teammates has caused a problem for the MHS bowling team in terms of gaining team points during meets and the disadvantage they have to other teams with more athletes.

“I think [the loss of bowlers is] because of track season,” Reid said. “A lot of the girls want to start preparing and training for the spring season.”

In such a short amount of time, the bowlers have noticed a couple limitations to their game. Not only their numbers or skill development affect that, but attitude is the biggest threat to their game.

“I think just having positive thoughts would help us tremendously,” Reid said. “I’ve noticed that whenever we miss something, we have so many negative [thoughts, which follow every throw after].”

Along with the bowling team’s loss last Wednesday, the team hosted another meet at home, with a different outcome. The bowling team placed first as a team – boys Varsity placing first, boys JV placing second and girls Varsity placing second, bowling against Emporia, Hayden, and Washington County.

In this quad, the athletes got used to hosting a meet and were ready to pick up their game.

“[We did much better] in converting spares,” head coach David Murph said. “I think [the bowlers] transitioned better throughout the games, made the right moves on the lanes and were able to score better.”