Two Mars Area High School seniors saw their plans to establish a school bowling club team come to fruition, as the team took to the lanes for its first match earlier this month.

The team was formed by seniors Aidan Alessio and Adam Rohrbaugh, who began their planning last summer and submitted a proposal for the club to Zach Matusak, athletics and activity director, earlier this year.

Upon receiving the necessary approvals, the students also found a coach; a community sponsor (Dented Keg) to cover the cost of jerseys; and called around to local schools to find other teams against whom they could compete. Team members include Alessio and Rohrbaugh as well as seniors Kaden Gratton and Rayane Lahlou; and freshman Gus Coffield.

The team faced defeat in its first match against Moon Area (0-5) on Jan. 23;  but swept the board against North Hills (5-0) on Jan. 29. The team’s next match is against Butler on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Mars Area High School previously had a Coed Varsity Bowling club team that competed as part of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League from 2008-2009 until the 2019-2020 School Year. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the team was disbanded and did not reform.

For more information about the new club team, visit www.instagram.com/marshsbowling/.