Every year brings on a new season for sports. With that new season, comes some new team members and a different dynamic. The Xavier girls’ bowling team is embracing all of these factors head on.

Traditionally, the varsity team is mostly upperclassmen. This year though, the team has only two seniors, Kaitlyn Buenzow and Caitlin Dvorak. Both of these girls have had many great memories while bowling for Xavier. 

“Bowling for Xavier has been a fun experience,” Buenzow said. “No matter how well I bowl, I always have had fun with my team and I have made some amazing friendships.”

For Dvorak, she finds her love for bowling through her teammates.

“It has been cool getting to meet some of the younger bowlers,” Dvorak said. “There are some girls that I would not get to know unless we bowled together, which is nice.”

Buenzow has been on varsity for four years. She discussed that there are several things she will miss about the program. 

“I will miss all the unique experiences such as van rides out of town and being able to scream my head off at meets for my teammates because that’s what the teams do at bowling meets,” Buenzow said. “I have been able to improve my game a lot with the help of my teammates and Coach Camacho.”

With Buenzow and Dvorak being the only seniors on the team, they have had to step up as leaders for the program. However, Dvorak said she does not view Buenzow or herself as upperclassmen.

“I don’t really think about seniority on the team at all,” Dvorak said. “I think of all my teammates as great friends regardless of our age or grade because everyone plays an equal part in the success of the team.”

The girls’ bowling Head Coach Russ Camacho is excited to see how Buenzow and Dvorak finish out and their careers at Xavier.

“Kaitlyn Buenzow is a seasoned veteran, this is her fourth year on varsity, so I look to her a lot to provide leadership and confidence during a match,” Camacho said. “Caitlin Dvorak is on varsity for the first time this year and she has worked hard to improve her game and has been solid for us this season. Both these girls play with passion and drive and their teammates feed off of that.”

Watch Buenzow and Dvorak lead the team when they compete next in a duel against Iowa City High on Friday, January 29 at 3:15 p.m. at Colonial Lanes in Iowa City.