Carterville Lady Lions Bowling are back in action at Triad’s annual after Thanksgiving Invitational to start off their 2022-2023 season. The girls placed 2nd at the Triad Invitational and are unbeaten in individual matches defeating Mount Vernon, Trico, Massac County, and Marion. The team has a total of four senior girls, two juniors, and two freshmen.

Senior Emily Swain reminisced on the last four years of her bowling career by stating, “The last four years have been such a wonderful experience in my life and for my team. We have grown together and I am proud of my team and I for all we have accomplished. I am sad to see the bowling season will be coming to an end for us seniors but I am beyond excited to see what will come for us in the future.”

While Swain says she is excited for the future, senior Abby Banovz says that, “Although I was new to this, bowling has been really fun. I learned a lot from being on the team and I am very proud of how far me and my teammates have gone.”

The Carterville High School bowling program has been coached the last eight seasons by Mr. Lee Kirchner. Kirchner has been involved in the bowling scene for many years, having a son that competed professionally in the sport and his daughter, Adriana Bird, is a junior on the CHS girls bowling team. Adriana leads the girls team in scoring average. According to Adriana, “With my team and their support, it has helped me stay in line. I have accomplished bowling my highest series. The main thing that has helped me this season is being consistent. I think about this quote every time I bowl: ‘If you do not believe you can do it then you have no chance at all.’”

Serving as assistant coach for the CHS bowling program is Jonathon Batchelor, whose son Luke Batchelor graduated last year from CHS and is currently bowling collegiately at Lindenwood University.  He assists with both the boys and girls bowling teams by keeping stats and providing additional coaching advice.

On Saturday, December 10th, the girls headed to Columbia, Illinois to compete in the Columbia Kegler tournament. On Wednesday, December 14th, the Lions take on Herrin and Harrisburg at SI Bowl in Carterville. To wrap up the schedule prior to Christmas, the Lions will participate in the Herrin Invitational at Herrin Bowl on December 17th.