LAKEVILLE - Just three years ago, LaVille resurrected its high school bowling program. In 2022, coach Kevin Kubsch and his coaching staff helped LaVille Bowling advance to the semi-state level as a team sport.  To go along with the team appearance, two Lancer bowlers advanced to the regional round of the individual event.  Then sophomores Lowell Heminger and Ryan Riddle moved into the regional individual tournament and then the semi-state individual event.  Jaedyn Shaw also advanced to the regional for the LaVille ladies team. From last place in the conference in 2020-21, to regional and semi-state qualifiers in 2022-2023 has brought excitement to the Lakeville campus.  Prior to that time, LaVille last competed as a bowling team in 2012. “First you look at it in just three years, the amazing development from the kids,” said Kubsch.  “We go from sitting at the bottom in our first year and we add two years to that and going to the semi-state.  These kids just keep amazing you each day.  Their work ethic, asking the right questions, asking about placement,  all the nuances. They are creating this environment. We have gotten better every week.  We continue to trend upward. Sky’s the limit for this group of kids.  Myself and the other coaches are so proud of this group of kids.  It’s not about coaching, it’s about how they have built a program here. We have just been the directors. They are excited!” LaVille also had three qualifiers that participated in the individual portion of the regional. “They were a little nervous coming in that kind of environment,” Kubsch said of Heminger, Riddle and Shaw in the individual phase. “They competed hard.  It was a learning experience for them.  They are doing a good job of being on that side of the state tournament run.  They bowled against some of the best in the state that have been bowling for a long time.  They all made us proud.”   It was a fine run by a LaVille team that was still unknown to some. "Last year was an amazing season for the Lancer Bowling Team," said Kubsch.  "We had a great run through tournament time and we opened a lot of eyes throughout Northern Indiana with how well the kids performed.  We came just short of making an appearance at the Indiana High School Bowling State Championship." In 2023, LaVille will start with a seasoned group and hungry for more. "This year's team returns a lot of veteran bowlers who have been working real hard on their game," Kubsch explained.  "We are going to look for leadership and performance from our Seniors, on the boys side, Lowell Heminger, John Andert, Noah Samuel as well as some Juniors who are impressing the coaching staff.   Those boys include Ryan Riddle, Chase Schmidt and Sean Kubsch. The Michiana West Conference consists of Boys, Girls and Junior Varsity Teams.  There are currently 13 boys teams competing this year.  Included in that group will be Argos, John Glenn, Mishawaka, Mishawaka Marian, New Prairie, Penn, Plymouth, Rochester, South Bend Adams, South Bend Riley, South Bend Saint Joseph, Tippecanoe Valley, and the Lancers.Kubsch says that "the strongest teams in the conference on the boys side will be Mishawaka, Rochester, and New Prairie. We will also have two junior varsity teams that will compete on certain days when the lanes are available.  The JV Squad will consist of students in 7th grade and above which means a lot of our younger bowlers will get some great experience as well." The team has adopted the "Lancer Pride" as the theme for the year,  "and we hope that the program lives up to those expectations that the team has for themselves.  They are anxious to get that Lancer Pride going." According to Kubsch, the main goal is for the Lancers to relax and have fun. "For us to be successful this season we just need to relax and enjoy the game and not put too much pressure on themselves," concluded the fourth-year Lancer coach.  "They have the ability to translate good games on the lanes and not overthink things.  This will make them successful!" LaVille is set to open the 2023 season against John Glenn on October 10.  The new campaign gets started at 6 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl. LAVILLE BOWLING Boys High School Roster Seniors: Syrus Lichtenbarger, Cody Minix, Paul Clayton Juniors: Samuel Noah, John Andert, Lowell Heminger, Hayden Grindle, Aaron Lee, Chase Schmidt,Caden Rush, Dustin Miller, Carlos Pena Sophomores: Sean Kubsch, Andrew Wolford, Ryan Riddle, Neil Patrick, Cohen Pena Freshmen: Logan Sliter, Bobby Brzezinski Boys Junior High Roster Ryan Carmichael, Jackson Powers, Adam Shaffer, Noah Keen MICHIANA WEST BOWLING CONFERENCE LaVille Boys 20-23 Schedule OCTOBER 10 - LaVille v. John Glenn, 6 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl 22 - LaVille v. South Bend St. Joseph, 2 p.m. Quick's Lanes 24 - LaVille v. South Bend Riley, 6 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl NOVEMBER 4 - LaVille v. South Bend Adams, 3 p.m. at Country Lanes 5 - LaVille v. Plymouth, 5 p.m. at Country Lanes 11 - LaVille v. Penn, 1 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl 11 - LaVille v. New Prairie 3:30 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl 18 - LaVille v. Argos, 1 p.m. at Parkway Lanes 18 - LaVille vs. BYE, 3 p.m. at Parkway Lanes DECEMBER 3 - LaVille v. Rochester, 2 p.m. at Quick's Lanes 9 - LaVille v. Mishawaka, 11:30 a.m. at OC Lanes 17 - LaVille v. Mishawaka Marian, 2 p.m. at Quick's Lanes 23 - Position Round, Conference Championships, 1 p.m. Chippewa Bowl JANUARY 6 - Sectionals / Team Event, 1 p.m. at Quick's Lanes 7 - Sectionals / Team Event, 1 p.m. at Chippewa Bowl 20 - Regionals, TBD at Michigan City, City Lanes 27 - Semi-State, TBD at Fort Wayne, Thunder Bowl #1 FEBRUARY 17 / 18 - State Finals, TBD at Anderson, Championship Lanes