n the month of November, all of winter sports tryouts begin. Bowling, one of the most recent sports added to De Soto High School, is having tryouts starting on Nov. 26. This will be only the second year of bowling after being implemented last year.

Last year bowling was coached by Meredith Boydston who left the district. This year’s head coach is Ed Wilcox a teacher from Lexington Trails Middle School, with Jake Lorenzo returning as assistant coach.

“My expectations for the season would be to come in and build from last yea’s season. As a team my hopes are for us to improve overall, and hopefully have a good amount of kids show up for the tryouts,” Wilcox said.

Returning bowlers will have to make adjustments due to the change in head coach.

“I think Mr. Wilcox is a very good replacement for Miss Boydston and I am looking forward to coaching with him,” Lorenzo said.

With bowling in its second year as a new school sport coaches are expecting an increase in willing participants to come to tryouts this year.

“I am excited this year for tryouts because we are expecting more people to show up at tryouts this year with bowling being in its second year at the school. If some new people come out I will be excited to see how they do,” Lorenzo said.

When tryouts begin , the requirement for a student to make the team is to be one of the top 15 bowlers from boys and girls.

“I know we will have some good bowlers coming back this year, but I am also waiting to see if some new bowlers come out for the tryouts this year,” assistant coach Lorenzo said.

With expectations for new bowlers and the return of veterans from last year, coaches are hoping for a good second season for the bowling team.

“My expectations this year as a team is for us to just build and improve off of last year. My personal goal is to try and have the best average on the team,” said junior Nathan Hess, a retuning varsity bowler.

Once the season begins practices will be held at Crescent Lanes in Lawrence, which will be a closer facility for practice compared to traveling to Kansas City, Kan., last year.

“I’m looking forward to the start of the season, and also I’m real excited for our life lessons from coach Lorenzo,” Hess said.

With the opportunity of new bowlers coming out for tryouts and the return of last year bowlers, the team is anticipating a fun second season of bowling at DHS.