By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Traveling to the state high school tournaments each season is often a tradition for many families. They enjoy the competition of their favorite sport, may have competed themselves and recall memories or follow their own alma mater to the event when the team advances.

It’s a tradition.

The Rootstown Rovers varsity girls bowling team have established their own tradition, advancing to the state tournament for a remarkable three years in a row as a team.

Imagine, making it to the final dance, only a dream for many athletes, for three straight years.

The Andy Day coached team has consistently won league championships across three different leagues, been near the top or the victor at tournaments and now, for the third straight year, will compete in the OHSAA D2 Girls State Tournament at H.P. Lanes in Columbus.

On Saturday, seniors Anna Drago, Valeri Derteen and Kaitlyn Hammerschmidt; junior Hallie Furry, Olivia Davies and Nina Gill and freshman Charlotte Simkanin will begin their efforts to improve over their seventh place finish in 2025 and their eighth place finish in 2024. Two top 10 overall state placements that earned them each time into the bracket finals.

The current Cuyahoga Valley Conference champions all enjoy the family atmosphere of the team, love the team meals and brag about their coach, Andy Day, and how he makes them feel at ease, is really smart and has helped each of them whether they were beginning bowlers or already experienced when they joined the team.

KAITLYN HAMMERSCHMIDT, senior, has been on the bowling team all four years.

The reigning Player of the Year in the CVC, she is looking forward to her third time at the state tournament.

“I think we can win if we really try hard,” said Hammerschmidt who is also in the marching band, plays softball and plans on attending the University of Charlestown to become an ultrasound technician.

“The girls are all so much fun to be around” offered Hammerschmidt. “I’ve never had a bad time at bowling.

ANNA DRAGO, a senior, has been bowling for two years.

“I just started bowling last year and then, three months later, I was at the state tournament,” Drago explained. “Bowling is such a big part of my life now, I can’t imagine not bowling.”

“Coach Day is a good coach and mentor but he is also a good person to talk to. He makes bowling practice fun,” continued Drago who was on the golf team, in marching band and a member of the Quiz Bowl team and will go to college for match and economics to maybe become a teacher.

“Bowling showed me that I can learn new life skills and apply them to my life.

VALERI DERTEEN, also a senior and a second year member of the varsity bowling team.

“The state tournament last year was different from any tournament I had played in,” Derteen said. She also plays softball, runs track and field and is in the marching band.

“I just look forward to the whole experience of the state tournament because it is special. I am glad I am going with the team,” the senior offered. “She enjoys the bus ride and the team meal as well as bowling.

Derteen will go to college and medical school looking toward being a forensic pathologist.

HALLIE FURRY, junior, has been on the bowling team for three years and at the state tournament last year. Her goal is to just get her spares this time.

“My brother bowls and I just enjoy bowling, I think it is fun,” said Furry.

Her coach has helped her a lot.

“When I miss a spare, he tells me where to move to make it,” offered Furry who wants to work for the post office when she graduates.

OLIVIA DAVIES, junior, has been on the team since her freshman year.

“I’ve been bowling for about 11 years. I started young since my grandparents owned a bowling lanes,” she explained. “A lot of people bowl in my family.”

She attends Biomed, is a member of the National Honor Society, the Business Professionals, FFA and chair of the Leadership Development of the Student Leaders and is looking forward to a possible career in environmental biology.

“Going to states was a really cool experience,” said Davies. “My goal is to just do better than last year and I’m hoping w get at least top five.”

“Coach Day helped me my freshman year,” said Davies. “I didn’t know anyone and he helped me to know the girls. He really supports us.”

Davies said she would tell anyone thinking about bowling in high school to come out ad join the team and learn alongside the other bowlers.

“We have a unique sense of community that carries through the gams and the Baker games,” said Davies. “It is fun.”

NINA GILL, junior, has been on the bowling team throughout high school.

“It’s nice to know what to expect this year at the state tournament,” explained Gill who attends Maplewood Career Center focusing on cosmetology.

“Our team has fun, we treat each other like family. We are serious about bowling ut we are still having fun,” she explained.

“When I was younger, I used to bowl a lot,” Gill said.

“Our coach is funny and he knows what to do when we are struggling,” said Gill. “He expects the best of us.”

CHARLOTTE SIMKANIN, a freshman, is excited to go to state this year, her first year bowling.

“My first time bowling was just with my family for fun and my brother bowled his freshman year so I thought it sounded fun,” said Simkanin who was also encouraged to bowl by Coach Day’s daughter.

Simkanin plays softball and is looking toward working in the medical field, maybe a pediatrician when she graduates from Rootstown.

“I am looking forward to states being amazing,” she said. Coach Day always wants us to do our best, he is very encouraging and helps a lot.”

Her favorite time this season was at the state kick-off tournament. “We ended up going out to eat and the bus ride home was fun to start the season.”

Simkanin is also looking to pick up her spares and just try to do her best at the state tournament.

“I am looking forward to being on the team for another three years,” she said.

ANDY DAY, the coach the girls respect and admire, said, “Our expectations going into the season were to win the conference and ultimately give ourselves a shot at winning state.”

“I believe we match-up well with the teams that made it to the state tournament,” continued Day. “You just need to get hot at the right time during the stepladder finals.

“Last season, we talked about making it just another tournament. Enjoy the experience because only 16 teams make it to the state tournament in the D2 girls.”

“Ultimately we are looking to build the program that it is Rootstown at the state tournament every season,” the coach concluded.

Three times in a row is well on the way to that goal.