The 2026 bowling season kicked off in early November, and several area teams are already showing promising results. Here’s a look at what the coaches said about their teams.
Apollo: Apollo bowling has picked up where they left off from a year ago, finishing second in a pre-season tournament and winning multiple dual matches. The boys return seniors Kaden Brown and Ryan Krampe, junior Connor Thomas, and Freshman Owen Miller, who are all off to solid starts. Apollo Head Coach Kerrie Franklin is expecting eighth grader Jameson O’Bryan and freshman Chansen Embry to take the next step.
Sophie O’Bryan is off to an impressive start for the E-Gals and is joined by Gracie Brown, who recently finished fifth on the All-Tournament Team at Graves County. Seniors Addison Wells and Raleigh Shelton have stepped into larger roles, and eighth grader Lexie Willis and junior Alivia Waltrip are expected to help fill in the gaps left from last year’s seniors.
“The ultimate goal of the season is for both teams to finish first or second at the Region Tournament and get back to state,” Franklin said. “Our boys have gone the last two years, and I know they want to get back there again, after last year’s top four finish. Our girls haven’t reached state since 2023, and they are focused on getting the job done this season. We also have high hopes for a very competitive, winning season and for a number of our top bowlers to also compete for the region singles title and a trip to state for singles.”
Daviess County: The Panthers are off to a hot start, winning the High School Crown Invitational tournament at the beginning of the year. On the boys’ side, they return plenty of familiar faces in Lucas Tincher, Evan Onstott, Kason Smith, Alec Jones, and Brandon Hall. They are joined by up and comers Milan Ferguson, Justin Case, and Nolan Ward.
The Lady Panthers don’t have many girl bowlers this year, and the program is looking to the program back up.
Our goal is to challenge for a regional title,” Daviess County Head Coach Casey Carroll said. “We also want to have at least an individual bowler or the whole team reach the state tournament.”
Owensboro: The Red Devils are entering a new era after graduating five members from last year’s team. Head Coach Regina Christensen has been pleased with her team’s early showings, finishing fourth at the OBA Tournament and 9th at the Graves County
Xavier Coomes, Dathon Hinton, Collin Hamilton, and Trey Douglas all return for the boys, and they are joined by up-and-comers Jayden Bartlett and Isaac Marshall, both of whom Christensen said are showing a lot of potential.
The girls return their entire team, with Zoey Douglas and Emily Cooper leading the way. They also have plenty of younger members ready to take the next step, including Elizabeth Marshall, Summer Sutherlin, and Bristol Hall.
“Our expectations are to get as much match time and lane time, and get them ready for regionals,
Christensen said. “Our goal for regionals is to do the best we can with the new squad. We are excited for this year and to to see where the kids go.
Owensboro Catholic: Two years ago, Owensboro Catholic started to development multiple seventh graders and now two years later, that has paid off. According to Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Eddie Miller, the freshman have become the team’s top bowlers.
Isaac Self, Dalton Conder, and John Pheifer lead the way and are joined by eighth grader Tyler Priest. A year ago, Priest was averaging around 100, but he is now averaging around 150.
“To build this program to the winning standard that we have here at Catholic, we’ll continue to build from the ground up, utilizing the middle school,” Miller said. “Our goals and expectations are to just keep getting better and having more of our young kids continue to work hard in the off-season.”
