BERNE — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo bowling teams this season were made up of kids who reached beyond themselves.

The girls’ team defended its Class C-D Section II title with a victory at sectionals on Feb. 9 and the boys’ team stepped up to win the Western Athletic Conference championship earlier in the month.
"They were a bunch of overachievers," said BKW Coach Don Dennis. "The whole team in 17 years of coaching — modified to varsity — this is one of the best. They are a super bunch of kids. I had a blast with them."

The boys’ team finished the regular season in sixth place in the WAC going into the one-day league tournament.

The girls were second in the league behind Middleburgh and finished behind them in the league tournament before having an impressive day at the Class C-D meet.

Repeat

The girls’ team lost a couple of key players at the beginning of the season.
"One girl decided not to come out this year and we were really counting on her," Dennis said. "Then Sammy Moak was injured for the first part of the year. She just got in enough games to make sectionals, which was lucky for us."

So the Lady Bulldogs went into the league tournament with a full squad.
"We had a good showing at the league tournament," Dennis said. "We finished second to Middleburgh. It was good and bad. We knew Middleburgh had beaten us both times during the season. We were just a couple of pins behind them. We thought we could stay with and beat Middleburgh.
"But going into sectionals, we knew we were getting stronger," Dennis added. "We finished the league tournament on a solid note."

The Bulldogs went into the Feb. 9 sectionals looking to repeat their title from last winter.
"We were hoping for a repeat but we knew we had to work for it," Dennis said.

After the morning session — three games — and the first afternoon game, the Bulldogs had the lead just ahead of Mayfield.
"Mayfield finished third in the league," Dennis said. "We knew they were a good strong team. But everybody was still in contention. We did not have a very big lead."

Dennis said that his team only led by a margin of 50 to 60 pins. But they suddenly lost their lead.
"Mayfield had a big game in the fifth and took a 98-pin lead," Dennis said.

That’s when Dennis went to his senior, Star Van Buren.
"She had a good morning and was hoping to make it to state team," Dennis said. "She thought she could be one of the top six bowlers in all classes."

Shooting Star

Van Buren had a bad fifth game, which hurt her chances to make the state team.
"She got down," Dennis said. "She knew states had slipped away from her. But I told her she still had something to bowl for. I told her no other girl has led her team to two sectional titles in our school.
"We were down 98 pins," Dennis added. "She went and threw a strike on her first shot of the sixth game. She came back to the team and said, ‘We’re not done yet.’ She threw three more strikes. She was on fire and we came back to beat Mayfield by seven pins. It was quite a finish."

Van Buren finished the tournament with a 197 average and a pin total of 1,184.
"It was a terrific way to end her career," Dennis said.

Moak, a sophomore, finished the sectional tournament with a 179 average to aid in the win.

Emily Meduna, a junior, bowled a 200 in the final game of the day and had an average of 167 during the tournament.

Ashlee Overbaugh, a junior, also had a solid day. She bowled to a 163 average.

Sophomore Emily Pierce came up big in the three afternoon games, Dennis said. She had a 171 average during the tournament.

The team also had three bowlers who saw some action this year and will be contributors in the future.

Seventh-grader Amber Moak, Sammy’s sister; ninth-grader Kaitlyn Overbaugh; and ninth-grader Rebecca Villeneuve all have bright futures for the Lady Bulldogs.
"Star is the only one we lose," Dennis said of Van Buren. "She’ll be a big loss. She’s been so dependable and made a big commitment. She was probably her own worst enemy and she got down on herself but the next day she would bounce right back. If she was sick, she would be there. We could always count on Star."

Boys’ surprise

The BKW boys’ team began its strong finish with a win over a good Fort Plain team at the end of the regular season.
"They were a good solid team," Dennis said. "They were in third place in the league and we were sixth out of seven. Then we beat them in Cobleskill. I think that got them believing that they could do something special. And at the league tournament, they exploded."

The Bulldogs set a school record for high single game of 1,165.
"The biggest accomplishment for the team," Dennis said, "is that they were that far down in the standings and set a record for high single."

Junior Ethan Schager bowled to an average of 289 and had the high triple game of 757.

The Bulldogs beat out Canajoharie, the number-one team. BKW finished with 6,065 total pins in the tournament.

The morning session was key for BKW as they knocked down 3,252 pins in the morning and 2,813 in the afternoon.

Senior Ben Hallenbeck had a good day as well for the Bulldogs. He had a total of 679 after the three morning games.
"He bowled in the seventh grade and never came out again until this year," Dennis said.

Junior Drew Swint also made a big contribution to the team.
"He’s been with us for awhile and we were counting on him," Dennis said.

Sophomore Dave White was a newcomer to the team and had a great tournament, Dennis said.

Eighth-grader Tim McIntyre bowled a 639 total in the morning games to help the Bulldogs.

Senior Jeremy Francis rounded out the roster. He bowled on the junior varsity for most of the season but went to the sectionals with the varsity squad.
"We’ll miss him next year," Dennis said.

The Bulldogs had a great sectional tournament as well. They finished fifth out of 22 teams.
"That was a terrific accomplishment for a team that finished in sixth place in their league," Dennis said. "It was the best boys’ finish since 1997. It was a good show for us."

Dennis said that the two tournaments proved to be a long day for his bowlers. Teams are not used to bowling six games in one day.
"Not too many teams get the opportunity to bowl that many games in one day," Dennis said. "It has a lot of emotional ups and downs. You really have to battle. I’m proud of both teams."

Dennis had help again this year. Dennis said he was thankful for what Co-Coach Matt Decker provided for the team. Martin Van Buren, Star’s father, also helped out during the season.

They helped add to the ingredients of what made up a very good ending to the season.
"Over all the years and the great teams we’ve had," Dennis said, "these have been the best as far as overachieving. I’m so proud of what we did. These are the greatest bunch of kids."