Uneven early scores don’t seem to bother head coach Randy Perry as he surveys Sequim High’s bowling squad for the 2016-2017 season.
In reality, he says, few of his players are working on their game during the offseason at Port Angeles’ Laurel Lanes.
But come early 2017, the second half of the season, he expects the Wolves to post much higher numbers and be contending with the rest of the Olympic League.
“They just don’t get up here (to the bowling alley, so) I have no expectations right now,” Perry said of his Sequim players. “(But) by mid-January I expect them to be throwing in the 650s to 700s or higher. That’s when they have to buckle down.”
In all, Perry sees five returning bowlers. Back is all-Olympic League first team bowler Dakota Henderson, who earned her second consecutive district tourney appearance last winter after averaging 174 pins per game at the league tourney.
“She’s always been a bit competitive,” Perry said of Henderson.
“As a senior, she needs to help the other girls, too. They can see some things I can’t see.”
Henderson and returnee Destiny Stauss placed in the top 50 at districts last fall.
Perry said Stauss should be bowling 140-160 by mid-January and possibly higher come the postseason.
Southpaw Porter Funston is back as well and Perry expects she’ll be a key part of Sequim’s success in 2016-2017.
“She’s going to have some big games coming up as she gets stronger, faster and more rotation,” he said of Funston.
Last season the Wolves beat Bremerton twice but struggled against the rest of the league, losing three each to Olympic, North Mason and league champ Klahowya.
Still, the Wolves posted strong scores in the postseason and put three — Henderson, Stauss and Kaleigh Cassal — into districts.
“After league, all five on varsity got fired up,” Perry said.
The Sequim coach also likes the study habits of his Wolves and noted Sequim has a chance to reclaim its academic 2A state title it won in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
Returning senior Dakota Henderson, a two-time district tourney competitor, was an all-Olympic League first-teamer last season. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
