FRUITPORT – The Fruitport girls bowling team has youth and excitement on its side as it heads into the 2024 season.

The Trojans will feature a group of eight bowlers, including four freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors.

There is not a lot of experience there. Three regular bowlers are back from last season, but the rest of the team is new.

But sometimes the unexpected happens in high school bowling, so there’s really no telling how well the youthful Trojans might fare this season.

Two years ago the Fruitport girls started the season with a desperate shortage of players, but ended up winning the GMAA City Tournament and had three bowlers quality for the state finals.

One of those bowlers finished second in the state in Division 2.

Regardless of how the season might pan out, Fruitport head coach Tim McKeeby sees it as an opportunity to mold some young bowlers into a good team.

“It’s awesome,” McKeeby said about his young roster. “They don’t know the sport, so it’s just teaching a sport to someone, which is awesome. They have no bad habits to break and they’re coming in fresh.”

Sophomore Harper Simila, a starter last season, has been voted captain by her teammates, which is a real honor for such a young player.

“She’s rose to the challenge,” McKeeby said about Simila. “The team trusted her and elected her captain. She’s still learning herself, but she’s at least bowled a whole season, and she’s really committed.”

Seniors Joe Pider and Kadie Juska are the other experienced bowlers on the team and will play significant roles.

Sophomore Gen Franklin and freshmen Kaitlyn Bourdon, Kyleigh O’Connell, Maddie Smith and Mya Herrygers round out the roster.

“We have one really strong returner in Harper,” McKeeby said. “The rest of the committed girls are brand new to bowling. The expectation is to improve every day and learn the sport. We want to learn the ins and outs of picking up spares and just growing to be consistent as a team.”

While a big portion of the team are freshmen beginners, McKeeby isn’t new to the girls.

“I teach eight grade at the middle school,” the coach said. “I’ve been telling them about bowling since last year, and thankfully they listened to me and joined the team.”

With the schedule opens up on Friday with a match against Allendale, the Trojans are excited about a few different tournaments on their schedule this season.

“We have our Fruitport Invite on January 4 at Northway Lanes,” McKeeby said. “We also hope to do well at Sherman Lanes on February 12 in the GMAA city meet, because that’s one of our favorites.”