Amherst sophomore Ian Dudley returns to the Amherst bowling team after qualifying for the state finals last year as just a freshman. 

Dudley has loved bowling ever since he was a child: “As a kid I used to bowl all the time, from the ages of 4 to around 10. I then quit until my 8th grade year, where I decided to start bowling again, and I have been loving the sport since.” 

Almost daily, after school, Dudley goes to White Tail Lanes to practice 1-2 hours. There he practices spares, rotation, good form, and getting accurate with all shots, making the most of it. 

“The reason I am successful is because of how hard I train myself and how serious I take the sport. For a sport I love, I always like to give 120 percent of myself,” Dudley said. 

Like all competitors, Dudley has rivals and his biggest include Devin Mckiski, of Marshfield, Brady Jaecks, of D.C. Everest, and Henry Vater, Iola. “They are all great bowlers and all people I hope to bowl against in college,” Dudley said.

Dudley has several team and individual goals going forward.

“My Individual goal is to fill the shoes of Ethan Paulson and Alex Glodowski who left last year; at the moment I am doing a decent job. Probably my most significant role is as captain when it comes to the lanes and helping people figure out their lines. But as a bowler, I say I have my good days and bad days so I won’t say I am the best bowler on the team but I am among the best. I believe it would be a challenge for our team to win state but making state should be easier this year. As for myself, I hope to get to state again and hopefully make school history by my senior year.”