Decorah Bowling Teams Off to Strong Start With Wins Over Grundy Center

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa — Both Decorah High School bowling teams came away hard-fought victories from their Monday match at Crystal Lanes, continuing strong starts to the season for both the Viking varsity and junior varsity bowlers. Girls Bowling The Decorah girls' team moved, undefeated to 3–0 with a too-close-for-comfort 2,441–1,914 win over Grundy Center. Despite a few challenges, including a long trip to the lanes, tough bowling conditions, and some missed opportunities, the Vikings pulled their way out the victory that was both a source of pride and a much-needed learning experience. "We were just off a little tonight," said Coach Keith Bruening. "Long trip, tough lanes, full moon, bad breaks, but we won. It's a sign of a great team. We have to get better at spare shooting—too many missed opportunities—but we'll go back to work and focus on North Fayette Valley next Friday." Leading the varsity squad were Karlie Einck with 371, Rylee Averhoff with 358, and Marri Feuerhelm with 338. Other contributors included Kayley Baker, Taylor Sloan-Dahl, and Jasera Tweten, who added key points in each game. The junior varsity girls also remained undefeated at 3–0, with strong performances from Kayley Baker (297), Haylee Dahl (259), and Harlie Larson (254). Coach Bruening praised the effort: "JV girls had nice scores and were tough in the Bakers. They just did a nice job." Boys Bowling The Decorah boys' team kicked off their season with a narrow 2,852–2,837 victory over Grundy Center. After the first round, Grundy Center led 1,990–1,911, putting the pressure on the Vikings to perform in the Baker round. Decorah answered to the callwith strong individual performances, led by Tyler Novak, who struck 12 times in the anchor spot and converted all 10 fills, and Jace Buddenberg, who struck 9 of 10 shots and converted all fills. Chase Vick also contributed 373 in the individual round. "It was a nail-biter," said Coach Bruening. "Grundy had a solid squad" The junior varsity boys also had an outstanding match, winning 2,726–2,175. Gavin Luzum led the scoring with 439, followed closely by Tristan Hunter with 426. Anders Wicklund was consistently accurate in the pocket, while Van Steine added key points. Jackson Irwin and Brock Bullerman provided energy alongside points throughout the match. With these victories, both the varsity and JV squads for girls and boys are off to strong starts. The Vikings will return to action at home next Friday, with the boys hosting West Union and the girls taking on North Fayette Valley. Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.