Claremont
Windsor High School’s varsity bowling team comes with the full package — skill, talent and a family on and off the lanes. Everything clicked for the Yellowjackets on Saturday morning as they won a four-team match at Maple Lanes. Top-seeded after qualifying play, Windsor defeated White River Valley (146-117, 191-102) in the semifinals and Springfield (196-146, 189-143) in Baker-bowl final.
Rayce Gilbert, the top-ranked bowler in Vermont high school play, led Windsor to the victory. He entered Saturday ranked first in the state with a 211.2 average.
Gilbert is only a junior and has been bowling for only a little more than two years. But his love and passion for the sport is what has driven him to find so much success in his young career.
“What peaked my interest in bowling is there is no perfect bowler,” Gilbert said after Saturday’s match. “My best game is a 268 so far. There are perfect games, but no perfect bowler.”
Gilbert attributed a lot of his success to his team. Windsor has the same varsity roster it had last year and, with no seniors on the team, the Yellowjackets hope to have the same bunch back next year, too.
“Good chemistry is really important, and this team certainly has it,” Windsor coach Steven Bly said. “I have had some really good groups over my seven years coaching. But, in terms of closeness, this is one of the closest groups I’ve had.”
Gilbert referred to his team as a family.
“It’s like a family reunion every week,” Gilbert said.
Bly also spoke about how Gilbert has grown over the years as both a player and a leader. Gilbert averaged in the low 100s his freshman season, then bumped his average up to 175.2 as a sophomore.
“His leadership has taken over,” Bly said. “He’s working with other kids, watching how they’re bowling and helping them out. In terms of lane time, the kid just about lives here.
“We practice two nights a week. He competes on Saturdays, is in a league on Sundays and has his grandmother bring him in one to two other nights a week just to bowl. He’s here year-round, three to four nights a week over the summer as well.”
Work ethic can’t be coached or learned. It’s something Gilbert just has because he loves the sport so much, but especially when he’s wearing Windsor green.
“It’s crazy; in my Sunday league, I average 184, which isn’t close to my high school league average,” Gilbert said. “I guess I just bowl better in a green polo and khakis. I can’t explain it.”
With such a young team already finding so much success having six bowlers in the top 35 for individual stats and no seniors, Bly and Gilbert are both striving for a couple of championships.
“Our team has gotten so much better over the years,” Gilbert said. “Everybody got a whole lot better and understands the sport so much more. I want two (team) championship in two years.”
Bly is also hopeful for his young team.
“I have four juniors who have been with me for three years, improving every year,” Bly said. “We had a couple down seasons after our 2016 state championship because we were so young. But now we’re bowling really well, heading in the direction to compete in states.”
Windsor will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Brattleboro Bowl to face off with Brattleboro, Oxbow and White River Valley.
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Gilbert rolled games of 230 and 195 in qualifiers as the Jacks racked up 1,566 pins to earn the top seed. Grayson Frazer (166-193), Brayton Bailey (142-165), Samm Erskine (124-101) and Patrick Velley (125-125) also contributed for Windsor.
White River Valley placed fourth in qualifying with 1,148 pins. Hannah Bryan paced the Wildcats with games of 134 and 123. Braden Martin (108-123), Kaleb Thornton (102-116), Alex Madden (99-128) and Nick Ramos (121-94) also lined up for the Wildcats.
Brattleboro took third place, defeating WRV, 169-130 and 146-91.