The Alliance Unified Bowling Team competed in their fifth state competition in six years, bringing a total of eight bowlers with them: Tyler Jensen, Moises Garza, Rhonda Clark, Meagan Morgan and Daulton Mangas, with Michael Zuniga, Ian Gomez and Noah Drew on standby in case of injuries or illnesses.
Coach Joe Mangas said the bowlers were excited since winning the district competition on Dec. 1.
“Our team struggled during our regular season this year, which caused some discouragement,” said Mangas. “The district win was the momentum our team needed, and it worked. We had quite a few practices leading up to districts and when we left for Lincoln on December 5. All season we have practiced skill shots and picking up spares. Winning districts was the biggest success of the season. With a total of 1,034 pins, Alliance had the highest pin count total of all schools across the state in district play.”
Mangas said that this year, the Nebraska School Activities Association set up two classes in Unified Bowling: Class A and Class B, with Alliance Competing in Class B. There were a total of 16 teams competing during the state tournament.
“We bowled well in the six seeding games, where we placed fourth seed,” Mangas said. “We actually tied with Grand Island Northwest, and an athlete had to bowl a single frame to break the tie. Tyler Jensen for Alliance made it look easy, as he bowled a strike to win the bowl off. In our first bracket game, as #4 seed plays #5 seed, we faced Grand Island Northwest. A nemesis in the past, Northwest continued to show themselves as worthy opponents. We bowled four games in the best of five setup. Grand Island took games one and three. Alliance won game two. In game four, Northwest defeated Alliance by a mere two pins.”
Mangas said the coaches are happy with the performance of the bowlers at the state tournament.
“Going to state and representing Alliance is always a fun experience,” Mangas said. “Our team’s personalities blended well together, as we are one bowling family. That bowling family mentality extends to other teams as well. After Alliance was defeated, we stayed at Sun Valley Lanes to root on district competitor Ogallala who made it to state on one of the two Class B wild cards. As coach Laura Mangas exclaimed, ‘If Alliance can’t win, we’re going to cheer on another team from the west to win!’ That positivity worked well, as Ogallala went on to win the Class B Champtionship!”
Coach Mangas said volunteer coach Kirk Hutson, and Nancy Johnston and Amy Clouse of Bowl Mor Lanes have supported the team greatly over the past six seasons.