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THE SPORTS PAGE The Arlington Times • The Marysville Globe
December 28, 2013
Marysville, Lakewood bowlers hit the lanes BRANDON ADAM
badam@marysvilleglobe.com
MARYSVILLE — Kids who wish to participate in bowling at the high school level may do so thanks to the Snohomish Traveling League which allows various high schools to compete with each other. Students from Marysville Arts & Tach can bowl on the Marysville Penguins team, MarysvillePilchuck and Marysville Getchell students bowl on the Marysville team, and students from Lakewood High School can bowl on the Cougars team. As of Dec. 16, the top three teams in the league were Lakewood Cougars, Marysville Penguins, and Marysville. The teams’ rosters include state recognized talent. A notable player from Marysville team is M-P senior Bryson Parker, a bowler who placed second in the WSBPA High School Varsity Championship at last year’s Acme Bowl. Parker has bowled for only four years, whereas many other bowlers his age started at a young age. Parker is currently the leading player on pins, with 8,167 as of Week 16 of 23, on Dec. 16. What Parker enjoys the most
about bowling is the competition. “I enjoy bowling against other people,” he said. Other participants enjoy the social experience. “I enjoy meeting all the interesting people,” Lakewood bowler Ellen Dowell said. “I made a lot of good friends.” The Penguins feature accomplished bowler Baylie Self, who also placed second in last year’s state tournament. The league currently has 10 teams competing. The top three teams will move on to compete in the state tournament. Ed Friesner, Head Coach of the Marysville team, challenges all his bowlers to develop crucial skills necessary in the sport. “I want to teach the kids how to bowl right, have fun and good sportsmanship,” he said. As a bowler for 50 years, and a coach for 20, Friesner sees himself as mentor for the young bowlers. “I started bowling at their age,” he said. Friesner has bowled around world. He began bowling at a young age, and bowled while serving in the Air Force. Some of Travel Leagues team’s rosters exceed the number of players a team can have.
The Penguins, for example, have three teams but score as a single unit. “We have enough players on Arts & Tech to have three teams,” Penguins Head Coach Gary Schopf said. Lakewood also has a similar way of coaching its team. Head Coach, and mother of Ellen, Cindee Dowell coaches two Lakewood teams. The challenge this poses is the micromanaging. The coaches have to navigate to different lanes manage their teams. “It’s a bit of a challenge,” Schopf said. “You kind of have to run back and forth.” Because of the number of bowlers for the Penguins, Schopf ’s wife Natialene assists in the coaching. Bowling, in terms of popularity, is an often overlooked sport, with the more well-known sports such as football, basketball and baseball getting the most recognition. “A lot of people don’t think it’s a sport,” Friesner said. One of the challenges the bowling teams face is funding. The Penguins do not receive funding from the school. “Where I coach we don’t have sports,” Schopf said. “And it’s not a sport, it’s a club.” Because of this, Schopf ’s bowling team has to create ways to
Brandon Adam/Staff Photo
Arts & Tech bowler Jared James bowls during a recent match at Strawberry Lanes. make money, such as car washes and other fundraisers. “We’re always looking for grant money,” Schopf said.
The Snohomish Travel League’s next bowling meet will be Jan. 9 at Strawberry Lanes, located at 1067 Columbia Avenue, in Marysville.
Marysville’s Gallo makes FBU Team Seattle BY BRANDON ADAM badam@arlingtontimes.com
MARYSVILLE — Twelve-year-old Kaleb Gallo has played football for the past eight years. As a seventh grader at Cedarcrest Middle School, Gallo played football for both the Arena Youth Football League and for the Marysville Youth Football League. “He plays football all year long,” his dad Kevin Gallo said. Football plays an important part in Kaleb’s life. When he was selected to play on Football University Team Seattle’s seventhgrade team, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. “I’m really excited,” Kaleb said. “I have never played in this big of an event.” Kaleb currently plays center on Team Seattle’s offensive line, a team that is edging its way closer to the FBU National Championship. FBU initially started out
with 64 teams in its bracket, Team Seattle has made it to the final four. Kaleb’s team has shown tremendous potential to win the FBU National Championship. “They said our [offensive] line is going to take us all the way to the championships,” Kevin said. “They have gotten all the way to the final four.” As of Dec. 28, Team Seattle has defeated four teams, with its most recent win being a 28-7 victory against Orange County on Dec. 15. Kaleb’s upcoming game will be part of another elimination round in San Antonio, Texas, against Iowa on Jan. 3. If they defeat Iowa, they will play for the Championships on Jan. 5. Kaleb was discovered by FBU when his dad was coaching his son’s arena football team against another team whose coach was also the head coach for FBU. Kevin said Kaleb was described as phenomenal
by Coach Robert Mason of FBU Seattle. Kaleb hopes that playing for FBU will develop his football career. “I hope I can get a scholarship,” Kaleb said. Also advancing his football skills, Kaleb, hopes to represent his hometown, MYFL and AYFL. “I want to represent a good league on where I come from,” he said. Kaleb’s dad, who coaches both of the Marysville football teams his son plays on, was equally excited for Kaleb’s chance to play on an all-star team. “I think its great because there’s no other kids from Marysville,” Kevin said. “He was hand selected.” Kevin believes that with Kaleb being selected as a prospect from Marysville, that is meaningful based on the city’s geographic local. “A lot of players are from down south,” he said. “They’ve finally branched out into smaller communities.”
With Kaleb representing the Marysville area, Kevin thinks this will allow other local kids to be recognized by FBU in the future. “Maybe this is a chance for them to look at all the other kids from Marysville,” Kevin said. “He’s giving these other kids a chance to get on this team next year.” FBU Seattle’s eighthgrade team features a player from Arlington, Gabe Green, as well as Grant Thomas from Marysville, players Kevin also coached. Since Kaleb was selected to play on an FBU team, he has had the opportunity to work with other elite players. Kaleb stands 5-foot-9 but plays with much larger players. “Kaleb is the smallest lineman in the seventh grade,” Kevin said. “These kids are 6-foot-2 and weigh 255.” Though smaller compared to his other teammates, Kaleb performs just as well, executing key plays
Courtesy Photo
Kaleb Gallo, left, with teammate Taylor Goins. as a blocker. When the ball is snapped, Kaleb believes his team performs best in the running plays. “With the line we have, we do really well on running plays,” he said. “we are really fast and strong.” Kevin is grateful for the coaching staff his son works with. “His coaching staff is phenomenal,” Kevin said. “I’ve coached him since he was five years old and I couldn’t ask for
anything better.” For more information on FBU Team Seattle’s progress in the playoffs, visit their website at www.fbunc. com/teams/west/seattle for their schedule, roster, and coaching staff. For information regarding Football University visit www.footballuniversity.org/seattle. Team Seattle is also accepting donations for traveling expenses at www. gofundme.com/5urba0.