All in the family
The boys and girls Woodstock School District 200 co-op bowling teams have more in common than just sharing Wayne’s Lanes as a home venue. Each team has a Busch family member on their roster.
Junior Paige Busch has been member of the varsity team since her freshman year and her cousin, sophomore Tyler Busch, is in his second year on the varsity team. Both have been integral in the success of their teams this year.
Paige and Tyler have bowled together since they were approximately seven years old. They were on a team in a Saturday league at Edgetown Bowl that included Paige’s younger brother Travis and two other cousins. They learned to bowl from their fathers, Guy (Paige) and Kurt (Travis).
Tyler said he misses everyone bowling together.
“Our entire family bowled together from the start,” Tyler said. “It was fun. I still wish they were bowling. They go to different schools so it would be fun competition.”
Paige said she recognizes how much better bowlers they are now.
“We have got better together,” Paige said. “When we first started at Edgetown our high games would be in the 150s and now we both have 200 games which is great.”
The boys and girls teams bowl together during practice. Usually four to five girls come to the boys home matches and vice versa. Although they cheer for each other, everyone is still trying to one-up one another.
“There’s a competition between everyone to see who can beat each other,” Paige said.
“Everyone competes against each other,” Tyler confirmed.
Paige is averaging 175 pins per game and, along with junior Rachel Zurawski, is leading the girls team, currently 4-7, to hopeful success in the post season. Her season highlight was Dec. 17 when she won the Rockford East Holiday Invitational.
“That was really exciting,” Busch said. “We have a cheer we do. We say ‘hot tub’ whenever we get a strike. So when I won the tournament and got up to accept the trophy the whole team said it for me. It was exciting.”
Tyler is averaging 171 and is one of five bowlers on the boys team, currently 10-6, who are averaging in the 170s.
Boys team head coach Ed Zurawski said Tyler is important part of his team’s success and he believes both Tyler and Paige have the abilities to be successful.
“Tyler is probably our number three guy on the team,” Zurawski said. “He’s been putting up some good numbers towards the end of the season…. They are progressing. Tyler’s biggest problem is mindset and Paige is pretty much the same way. They have the knowledge and skills to bowl successfully.”
In the end, Paige said she happy to have a family member in the program.
“I like it,” Paige said. “Having him there is cool because you get support from the team and from your family.”
