Waldorf aims to build experience this season
By Waldorf Sports Information Director
FOREST CITY – Gaining competitive experience will help set the tone for the Waldorf University women’s bowling team this season.
“I expect this to be a learning year as many of the women are new to the team and college bowling,” Waldorf coach Joe Squires said. “We have to shape our attitudes as we go from tournament to tournament and find success where we can.”
Despite having just two returning members from last year’s roster, the Warriors have displayed hard work and dedication on the lanes throughout preseason practices.
“The new bowlers have done everything I have asked of them,” said Squires, who enters his second year at Waldorf. “They continue to grow daily and work at figuring out sports patterns and making adjustments to their individual games.”
Beckie Anton and Alyssa Knudson return for the Warriors to lead a group of five newcomers.
This year marks Waldorf’s return to action after last competing during the 2014-15 campaign. Anton, a junior from Villa Park, Illinois rolled a 163.93 average that season.
“Beckie will make an immediate impact with her bowling ability and her attitude will help shape the rest of the ladies on the team,” Squires said.
Knudson will make her debut with the Warriors as a junior. The Buffalo Center native previously competed at Grand View University two seasons ago.
“Alyssa will make a direct impact, having experience in college bowling,” Squires said. “She will also work to break through the anxiety and nervousness the team may feel from inexperience.”
Forest City High School graduates Jenna Haugen and Kelsey Jo Sheldahl join Waldorf as freshmen, along with Allison Furman, Courtney Hageman and Olivia Kubis.
The Warriors begin the season in this weekend’s Stout State Open, opening the two-day tournament on Saturday at La Crosse, Wis. Viterbo University is expected to be one of Waldorf’s top opponents in the tier-2 tournament.
“The competition will be a bit lighter with the exception of Viterbo, which will be a great starting point for this team,” Squires said. “This tournament will be great experience for our bowlers as it is lower key and we are able to worry more about our team and less about the competition.”
Three of Waldorf’s 10 tournaments will be held in Iowa with the Five Seasons Classic scheduled for Oct. 29-30 at Cedar Rapids, the Morningside Mustang Invitational on Dec. 3-4 at Sioux City and the 4th Annual Crusader Classic slated for Jan. 28-29 at Dubuque.
The Warriors will also travel to Las Vegas during winter break in December to compete in a pair of highly-challenging tier-1 tournaments, including the Glenn Carlson Las Vegas Invitational and the Las Vegas Collegiate Shoot-Out.
Making strides from one competition to the next is the goal for Waldorf as the young and talented team aims to build experience during the program’s return season.
“We want to consistently improve from tournament to tournament and shape our attitudes for the good of the team,” Squires said. “We will have to come to practice with the intent to get better and constantly improve rather than going through the motions.”