Linn-Mar Girls Bowling

Lion bowlers looking for return trip to state

Jeremy Moser is the girls bowling coach at Linn-Mar High School, but he's also a 37-year-old college student.

His bowlers like to tease him about that.

"The kids are giving me a hard time about being in school and having to go home and do homework at the same time they do after practice," he said with a laugh.

It gives the coach and players two things in common: Bowling and homework, both of which they take seriously.

Moser is taking a full load of classes at Mount Mercy University in order to get his teaching degree. He's currently working at Discovery Living, a group home in Cedar Rapids for adults with disabilities, but his goal is to become a classroom teacher.

So right now he's a student, a coach and a staff member at Discovery Living. "It keeps me hopping," he said.

Moser runs a successful bowling program at Linn-Mar. The Lions finished eighth at the Class 2A state tournament last year and appear to have another strong team.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I've got a lot of returners."

Stacey Schwarzenstein placed eighth in the individual standings at the state tournament last year and leads the way for the Lions. Nicole McMahon and McKenzie Routhe are also back from last year's squad.

"A lot of the kids have improved over the summer, so we should be that far ahead of where we were last year," Moser said. "I think we probably have the potential to go to state again."

Lions qualify for state tournament

Xavier sophomore Tara Trcka has qualified for Thursday's Class 1A bowling meet, and the Linn-Mar girls have qualified as an at-large team for Class 2A meet Friday.

Trcka shot a 388 in Saturday's regional tournament at May City Lane. Her name was not on the list when the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the names of qualifiers Saturday night, although her 388 was better than several of the scores that had been reported as at-large qualifiers. By Sunday, she was on the list.

Trcka is one of 16 qualifiers for the individual championship.  Hope Seyb of Keokuk had the top score in regionals with a 490.

Trcka's cousin, Allie Trcka of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, qualified for the Class 2A individual championship.

Linn-Mar finished third at the Class 2A regional at May City Bowl on Saturday. But both at-large teams to fill out the 10-team tournament field came from that regional. The Lions join regional champ Jefferson and second-place Muscatine in the 2A field.

Jefferson's score of 2983 was the highest recorded in the state during regionals. Muscatine had the second-highest score at 2956 and Linn-Mar's 2727 was fourth. Kennedy also is in the field after winning the Marshalltown regional. The Cougars' 2640 was the sixth-best score.

The Linn-Mar boys were the only Metro team to qualify for the Class 2A meet. Sophomore Dreyson Robe will compete for the individual title after shooting a 506, the third-best qualifying score in the state.

Lions head into tourney with win over Prairie

Abbey Stenersen had the hot hand, rolling a 263 high game and a 393 series, and teammate McKenzie Routhe fired a 399 series to lead Linn-Mar past Prairie, 2670-2513, Monday in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls bowling meet at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center.

The meet was the regular-season finale for both teams.

Routhe had a 229 game, Nicole McMahon a 221 and Stacey Schwarzenstein a 212 for Linn-Mar (7-7, 6-5 MVC).

Jamie Kadolph rolled a high game of 256 and series of 449 for Prairie (5-9, 4-7). Brittany Meyers had a 204 high game.

Linn-Mar will compete in the Class 2A regional tournament Saturday at May City Bowl. Prairie is in the Marshalltown regional.

PRAIRIE (2513): Brittany Meyers 204-380, Niona Bruce 198-376, Brianna Wagner 175-319, Rebecca Kacena 122-232, Jamie Kadolph 256-449.

LINN-MAR (2670): Stacey Schwarzenstein 212-352, Abbey Stenersen 263-393, Nicole McMahon 221-336, McKenzie Routhe 229-399, Amy Pickering 196-349.

First round -- Linn-Mar 1829, Prairie 1756. Baker round -- Linn-Mar 841, Prairie 757.

Jeff buzzsaw overwhelms Lions

Allie Trcka rolled a high game of 254 and Courtney Moore a 454 series to power Jefferson past Linn-Mar, 2899-2503, Friday in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls bowling meet at May City Bowl.

The J-Hawks (11-3, 9-1 MVC) had three bowlers torch the lanes with 400-plus series. Trcka rolled a 435 and Nicole Werling a 405. They also had five 200-plus games. Nicole Werling shot a 215, Jenna Alff a 210.

Valerie Loudenback fired a 241 high game and 399 series to lead Linn-Mar (6-7, 5-5).

LINN-MAR (2503): Nicole McMahon 153-285, Stacey Schwarzenstein 165-312, Mckenzie Routhe 180-335, Valerie Loudenback 241-399, Amy Pickering 189-356.

JEFFERSON (2899): Nicole Werling 215-405, Jenna Alff 210-360, Courtney Moore 253-454, Allie Trcka 254-435, Nicole Petersen 189-344.

First round -- Jefferson 1998, Linn-Mar 1687. Baker round -- Jefferson 901, Linn-Mar 816.