Lady Chargers Bowling Team In Transition
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThe 2008 girls bowling season may be one for rebuilding at Pearl City, but not because of a lack of effort on the part of the Chargers, according to first-year coach Millie Gomes.
“Girls have their moods, but this team is so together,” said Gomes, who also serves as the Navy Regional Bowling director at Pearl Harbor. “Our practice sessions are great, and during competitions the kids are really intense and wanting to win. They all have great focus. I’ve really enjoyed coaching this team.”
Long a force to be reckoned with in prep bowling, the Pearl City girls program is in transition after graduating an especially talented senior class last May, in addition to long-time coach Larry Rodrigues’ decision to step down. Gomes, whose son James Pirtle was the OIA individual champion in 2007, was the boys coach at Waipahu last year before taking over the Pearl City girls program from Rodrigues, who led the Chargers to four state titles.
While not mentioned among the preseason favorites a month ago,the Chargers have been progressing steadily, most notably in a come-from-behind win over Campbell last Tuesday.
“We had a slow start,but they really pulled through.It was a total team (effort),” she said of the Campbell match, which Pearl City won 2-1.
Seniors Teale Thornburg and Chelsea Baquiro-Ilaban have been the steadiest performers to date, according to Gomes. “Teale is our team captain, and she’s the senior class president.She’s not only a good bowler, but she’s also smart.
“Chelsea is not an aggressive bowler, but when it’s time to pull through, she’s got it,“Gomes added. “She has a strong ball, and she’s always happy-go-lucky.”
Junior Ashley Shoemaker also has had a solid season so far and is likely the team’s captain-in-waiting with Thornburg in her senior season and set to complete her eligibility.
“She’s made a big, big improvement since last season,“Gomes said of Shoemaker, a second-year varsity player. “I like her style. She’s a strong bowler - she knows the game very well - and she’s tough on and off of the court.” Seniors Jasmine Laupola and Charelle Kuamoo-Malama and junior Kaila Gross round out the team. Each is in her first year of varsity bowling.
“We lost a lot of seniors, so we knew this was a rebuilding year at Pearl City. I think it is more a mental game for them right now.”
Pearl City returns to action Thursday when the team meets Mililani at 4:30 p.m. at the Schofield lanes.
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