Girls co-op gets first title since 2002

THE STATE CHAMPION Sheboygan co-op bowling team (left to right, back row): Coach Lisa Roerdink, Lindsey Pudwill, Jolene Brusse, Sadie Anderson, Jenna Krueger, Melanie Hilbert and assistant Bill Hilbert; (front row): Gabby Voskuil, Izzy Anderson, Kelly Whipple and Juliana Bergman. – Submitted photo

Kelly Whipple’s strike in the ninth frame essentially clinched the Bowling Club State Championship for her Sheboygan co-op squad, only her teammates hadn’t figured out the math quite yet.

“I walked back off the approach and I just fell into Juliana (Bergman), and started balling my eyes out but I don’t think she knew what was going on,” Whipple said. “I didn’t say a word to them though because I didn’t want them to freak out – until my coach gave us the okay to freak out.”

For good reason.

Although Sheboygan’s boys won state last year, this was the first title for the girls since 2002.

“So there were a lot of tears,” coach Lisa Roerdink said.

The team, which has bowlers from North, South, Falls and Oostburg, defeated Holmen/Bangor in the final, 390-377, Sunday in Green Bay.

Last season, it finished third at state and had to replace just one person from that roster.

“So I knew we had one job, and that one job was to take home the title so we could go back-to-back in Sheboygan,” Whipple said.

Whipple attends South with Izzy Anderson, Gabby Voskuil and Lindsey Pudwill.

Bergman, Jenna Krueger and Sadie Anderson go to North.

An individual championship was also held, and Falls’ Melanie Hilbert finished fourth in the state. Pudwill and Whipple also qualified.

“It was so awesome she got to go out there and represent our name as well,” Whipple said.

Four boys advanced as individuals as well: South’s Logan Weigel and Austin Tryba, North’s Justin Gmach and Lutheran’s Hunter Adams.

“Our program is not just girls or boys, we are a family who supports each other,” Roerdink said. “Even though our boys did not qualify, they were at the hotel cheering us on.”