Off to strong start, Mareana Pilyih, Plum bowlers chasing WPIBL success

By: Michael Love
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Plum senior Mareana Pilyih came into the season with clear goals, both for her own game and the fortunes of her team.

They are being in the mix for Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League titles next month and also finishing off her decorated varsity career at states in March.

So far, she is setting the pace as one of the top bowlers in the WPIBL. She owned a 213.5 average through her team’s East section win over Redeemer Lutheran on Jan. 3 with season bests of a 255 game and a 748 series.

“I started off this season where I left off last year. Bowling as much as I do, it’s just about staying consistent and working on the little things,” Pilyih said.

“Picking up spares and leaving no open frames; that is one of the most important things. I want to end my senior year off well. My team keeps me going and keeps me motivated. We keep each other motivated to bowl the best we can.”

The Mustangs girls rule the East with consistency across the board. They remained undefeated last Wednesday with a 7-0 win over second-place Valley at Nesbit Lanes.

Pilyih rolled a team-best 653 series with top games of 235 and 226.

Senior Rebecca Griffin contributed a season-best 233 game for a 515 series.

Sophomore Addison Then was consistent on the way to a 555 series, and senior Jordyn Osche tallied a series-high 214 game en route to finishing with a 505 series.

Sophomore Alexandria Fulmer didn’t reach her season highs in the match with Valley, but she has been effective in matches with a top game of 214 and a top series of 606.

“This is probably the best team we’ve had for a while, and we’ve had some good teams,” Pilyih said.

“We get along so well, and we’ve been bowling great. We’re so supportive of each other. Hopefully, we can keep this up.”

The top two teams from each boys and girls section and four wild cards will bowl at the WPIBL team championships Feb. 14 and 15.

Qualification for the WPIBL singles tournaments Feb. 21-22 remains the same. A bowler has to roll at least 21 of the 30 team games in the regular season and maintain an average of 140 or better for girls and 170 or better for boys.

The Plum girls are on their way to the section title, while the Mustangs boys team, which swept Valley on Wednesday, tries to keep close to Penn Hills and Gateway atop the East section standings.

“We are 100% confident we can qualify for the team tournament,” said senior Cade Schimmer, who rolled a 682 series against Valley with games of 228, 231, and 223.

“We just have to be consistent in each match and do what we can do to get better. We have the guys to make it happen.”

Schimmer, the section leader in average (213), was just off his season-best 684 series. He owns a season-high 245 game.

“I am always focused on spare shooting, making all the one-pin spares and making most of my makeables,” he said.

“I have my goals of placing well at WPIALs and finishing top 12 at regionals to make it to states. That is the end goal.”

He is one of three from the section with averages above 200. Sophomore Grayson Byass-Rascoe is third with a 201 average.

All five Plum boys bowlers rolled at least one 200-plus game against Valley. That included seniors Zach Endler (220, 215) and Josh Cooley (258), and sophomore Brian Krall (217).

The Plum teams made a statement at the Saint Vincent Challenge high school tournament Jan. 6.

The boys and girls won their respective tournaments.

The girls finished first in the playoff-qualifying round, distancing runner-up Freeport by 601 pins. They then rolled past Hempfield in the semifinals (905-702) and Freeport in the finals (927-825).

The Plum boys fielded two teams, and the No. 1 squad finished second to Franklin Regional’s No. 1 in the playoff-qualifying round by just 34 pins.

Plum beat Serra (915-852) in the semifinals and Greensburg Salem (872-797) in the finals.

“It was a good feeling to do so well against some of the top bowlers and teams in the WPIBL,” Pilyih said.

“We (Plum girls) beat all the boys teams, too. We averaged 207 for Baker, which for girls is really good.

“Doing well there as both teams did gives us the confidence to know what we can do when it comes time for the WPIBL championships, regionals and hopefully states.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Plum