On Mondays and Thursdays at West County Lanes on Manchester Road, one club meets to train for upcoming competitions.

Seven months into the lengthy season, Bowling Club is now preparing for the biggest tournament of the school year: State.

“I have been on bowling club since my freshman year,” Rob Clemente, junior, said. “I was just looking around and bowling popped, so I just said ‘Why not?’ and tried it.”

At first, Clemente didn’t enjoy bowling but as he progressed, he began to enjoy the sport. A large factor was the team environment and the friends he had made in the first year, he said.

Two years later, Clemente will attend the club’s first journey to State on April 29 and April 30 in Belton, Mo. The club members will participate in both team and individual competitions.

“I feel wonderful,” Clemente said. “I’m happy that I could take my team to State.”

Clemente plans on achieving a score of 300, or 12 strikes in a row in a single game. Hopefully he can bring home a first place for Marquette along with the 300, he said.

Brentwood Voss, general manager of West County Lanes, oversees the bowling club’s league, the Mid-American High School League. Voss also coordinates the playing times for their practices.

The league, Voss said, is open to anyone who wants to participate in high school competitions, and conferences are held based on the areas the teams are in.

Janet Sansone, club aide, has been a part of the team for a year and a half, when her son Dillan Sansone, junior, joined the team.

She accompanies the team at practices and competitions, observing the team’s chemistry.

“They are friendly, supportive, they work really hard to encourage each other,” Sansone said.

The club receives little publicity at MHS, but to its members, it’s a dynamic part of the club community, she said.

“There’s a lot of kids that really aren’t that physical you know, so it’s nice for them to have that sport that they can do,” Sansone said. “It does take some effort and technique for sure.”