We were in almost all of our matches, even the ones we lost and I’m happy with that. I think we’ll be in a really good spot next year.”

Jim Lyles

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity bowling team turned in a double-digit winning season this winter, finishing second in the Interstate 8 Conference for the season and qualifying three bowlers for All-Conference recognition. With three senior bowlers set to depart from the program after the 2023-24 school year, head coach Jim Lyles will look to his returning players as the team looks to continue its winning way into the 2024-25 school year and beyond.

Rochelle finished with a 10-7 overall record and a 5-3 record in the Interstate 8 this season. The Hubs took third at the Interstate 8 tournament and seventh at the IHSA Freeport Regional, with sophomore Andrew Powell advancing to the IHSA Jefferson Sectional in Rockford. Now a two-time sectional qualifier, Powell was one of two bowlers who took home First-Team All-Conference honors this winter. The two-hander will be a cornerstone for the Hubs next year.

“I thought we had a good season,” Lyles said. “We needed some work throughout the season, but overall I thought we had a successful season. We were in almost all of our matches, even the ones we lost and I’m happy with that. I think we’ll be in a really good spot next year.”

Junior Logan Frye, another First-Team All-Conference honoree, will be eligible to return next season along with sophomore Levi Waddle, who was a regular varsity starter for the Hubs this season. Rochelle will lose three seniors from the varsity lineup including Sam Tracey, who was a two-year starter and an All-Conference Honorable Mention this season. Christian Thorne and Jonathan Alanis are two more senior starters who the Hubs will need to replace next winter.

“I think we have a bright future,” Lyles said. “Our attitudes were a lot better this year than they were last year. Our kids didn’t get down on themselves nearly as much and they kept an even keel. I’ll be looking for more leadership from the three varsity bowlers that we’ll have coming back next year. We’ll also have new kids who will be bowling varsity. I’d like to see us be more vocal as well. The top tournament teams are always cheering and I’d like to see us do that.”

Sophomore bowlers Caleb Mortensen and Declan McGee are two underclassmen who could step into varsity roles for the Hubs next winter. Both Mortensen and McGee earned spot starts for the varsity team during the 2023-24 season. Freshman bowlers Luke Norris and Bryson Stewart are two newcomers to the Rochelle team who could also see larger roles next season.