The Iowa Central bowling program looks to add more hardware to their trophy case when they begin the season this weekend.

The Tritons will compete in the Midwest Collegiate Championships in Wauwatosa, Wis. on Saturday and Sunday. The 2022-23 season will see Iowa Central make trips around the midwest, culminating in March at the NJCAA Championships at Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Last year, the Tritons secured runner-up showings on both the men’s and women’s side at nationals, as Rock Valley swept the team titles.

Under the guidance of Gregg Haden, Iowa Central has secured numerous top finishes on the lanes, including four overall team championships, the most recent of which came in 2021 as the women went back-to-back.

“For both the men and women, it will be team unity by working together that will be the key to us having a successful season,” Haden said. “That includes in the classroom, at practice and at tournaments.”

Haden has spent the past decade-plus building up the program to be able to handle just about anything thrown at them.

“Everyone has to put aside personal differences and focus and concentrate on every shot attempted,” he said. “That happens in everything they do that has an impact on how they can help the team.”

A pair of Fort Dodge Senior High standouts will be key to the success of the women’s team this year in Alexis Hanson and Alexis Kenney. They are joined by fellow newcomers Ashley Lacey and Brynne Mickelson to go along with returning pieces Madisyn Gerdts, Cassadey Lee, Victoria Potter and Abigail Price.

For the men, Jacob Kraft, Braedon Gehrke, Justin Graves and Mason Will return with experience, while Lucas Campbell, Easton Lee and Dawson Weber look to provide depth.

As someone deeply invested in the sport of bowling, Haden has seen the good and bad within bowling, including the decline in junior bowling.

“College bowling is growing each and every year outside of the COVID years,” Haden said. “As more learn that there are scholarship opportunities, the sport will continue to grow and more schools will make bowling available.

“We really need to reach out to our communities and share this information with them in hopes that they can increase their numbers in junior bowling programs. This is difficult as more and more bowling centers are closing due to low numbers while college bowling is seeing increases.”

Haden is once again assisted by Haley Hall.

2022-23 IOWA CENTRAL BOWLING

Rosters

Men

Sophomores

Ian Ackerson, Indianola; Braedon Gehrke, Minnesota; Justin Graves, West Des Moines; Jacob Kraft, Wyoming; Logan Kramer, West Point; Tyler Whitner, Ohio; Mason Will, Ogden.

Freshmen

Lucas Campbell, Minnesota; Justin Fulton, Cedar Rapids; Easton Lee, Monticello; Jacob Munz, Wisconsin; Ethan Schlapkohl, Durant; Steven Stone, Minnesota; Nathan Swanson, Minnesota; Dawson Weber, Bellevue.

Women

Sophomores

Madisyn Gerdts, Muscatine; Lexie Hauber, Decorah; Cassadey Lee, Carlisle; Victoria Potter, Arizona; Abigail Price, Newton; Emily Tieskotter, New Hampton.

Freshmen

Alexis Hanson, Fort Dodge; Alexis Kenney, Fort Dodge; Ashley Lacey, Wyoming; Brynne Mickelson, Minnesota; Arianna Slusarek, Cedar Rapids.

Schedule

Oct. 1-2 — at Midwest Collegiate; 15-16 — at Mid States; 29-30 — at Five Seasons Classic.

Nov. 5-6 — at Bronco Open; 12-13 — at Leatherneck Classic.

Dec. 3-4 — at Morningside Mustang Open

Jan. 14-15 — at Kegel/ISBPA; 21-22 — at Clarke Invitational; 28-29 — at Eagle Invitational.

Feb. 4-5 — at Kohawk Invitational; 18-19 — at Hoosier Classic.

March 2-4 — at NJCAA Championships; 10-12 — at USBC Sectionals.