ALTON – Marquette Catholic started a bowling program this season and, like many expansion teams regardless of the level or sport, has experienced the ups and downs of a first year in competition.
Explorer freshman Jake Gatermann has enjoyed being a part of the first year of Marquette bowling and looks to a bright future. The Explorers and Gatermann did not qualify for Saturday’s IHSA Collinsville Sectional tournament at Camelot Bowl, bringing the Explorer boys’ first season to an end.
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“It's been pretty fun,” Gatermann said about being a part of the Explorer program. “I didn't really know about it until a couple of my friends started telling me about it; since I joined, it's been a lot of fun.
“There's been some ups and downs with it and I've improved my game a lot.”
Gatermann is in his first year of competitive bowling, but has played previously on a casual basis. “It's been an interesting experience so far,” Gatermann said. “I hope to come back next year and improve my game even more than I have this year.
“I hadn't been thinking about my two-handed game; I'd been doing it willy-nilly. This year, I've really improved on it. I've been learning how to hit my marks better, where I should line up and how to keep going.”
