Griffith's Koleski ready for finals

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:22AM

When Griffith senior Courtney Koleski takes to the lanes at the Indiana

State Bowling Finals on Saturday in Anderson, she will be looking to improve

on last year's fifth place overall finish in singles and make the most of

her third and final year of competing at the state meet.

And for Griffith head coach Rick Woloszyn, the opportunity to coach his

four-year varsity bowler one last time will be bittersweet.

"She's the kind of person who any coach would love to have on their team,"

he said. "I've coached her now for four years, and she the type of bowler

who has always been coachable. She has listened and put what we coached her

on in her head. It definitely makes a difference.

"I will have seven seniors on next year's team, but I'll be missing Courtney

so much. Bowlers like her don't come around everyday. She has become like a

daughter to me. I've gotten to know all of her family real well, and her

impact on the team that won the sectional championship was big."

Koleski's journey back to Anderson, however, has been one of transition from

a physical standpoint. Normally a rock-solid bowler, her average suffered a

bit as her physical strength developed - resulting in changing the way she

rolls the ball. But Woloszyn said a change in equipment has helped Koleski

get back on track. He is also optimistic her straighter game will serve her

well on the lane conditions at state.

"Her game got a lot stronger last year, but she's in a good place right

now," he said. "She has a new bowling ball, and I think she's a more

diversified bowler. And I think her straight game will work very well in

Anderson."

Koleski said that she really likes her new ball and her improved game.

"I have four bowling balls, but the Taboo Hammer that I've used over the

past two months has really helped my game," she said. "My average was 190

before, and now it's somewhere between 195 and 198."

Koleski is hoping that improvements will help her get over the hump at

state, where she missed the finals by just seven pins.

"The last shot killed me," she recalled. "I left the solid eight; if I had

struck and gotten another spare, I probably would have qualified. But I

think I'm more confident with my bowling this year, and I'm definitely much

more comfortable in front of big crowds.

"It was nerve racking last year; I was literally shaking. But another year

has really helped. Now the noise gets me pumped, and yet I've also learned

to zone the noise out when I have to. I'm certainly hoping to at least get

to the (stepladder finals) this year"

Woloszyn said the Koleski's ability at handling a crowd is a big reason for

her success.

"She is a master at it," he said. "When she gets focused on what coach

Colleen (Lidster) and I are taking about, she just blocks that stuff out.

Courtney has definitely learned that it's you against the pins and not you

against another bowler. She can only beat herself, and that doesn't happen

too often with her. She just keeps getting better every year, and she's

mature to boot."

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