From the desk of head coach Stan Magusiak –

The Hopewell Vikings kicked off their 2025 bowling season on Wednesday with a home matchup against the Shenango Wildcats & Neshannock Lancers at Sheffield Lanes. It was a strong start across the board, with big scores, confident debuts, and a packed roster that filled the building with energy.

BOYS VARSITY

The Vikings squad opened their season in dominant fashion, rolling to a 7–0 sweep. Junior Ayden Gault led the way and earned Boys MVP honors after putting together a fantastic 693 series (219–240–234). Gault looked sharp from the first frame and never slowed down.

Right behind him was senior captain Brayden Mowry, who fired a team high 253 in his first game and finished with a strong 628 series. Junior Aidan Heppner added a steady 569, and sophomore Nolan Houy contributed a solid 563. Sophomore Max Butter closed out the varsity lineup with a 520 series, giving Hopewell five bowlers over the 500 mark to start the year.

Gault, Houy, and Mowry recorded their career-high series with Gault throwing the highest series the program has seen in several years.

The opener also featured several new faces. Joe Bulebush made his varsity debut, and a large group of new Vikings made their first appearance in a Hopewell jersey: Jordan Jacobs, Desmond Sembower, Diego Ocasio, Nate Cronin, Sam Bologna, Caleb Hughes, Revan Fazio, and Richie Yeager.

The Viking men shot a total series of 2973, this is the highest team total for the Hopewell Viking since the 2015-2016 team shot a 3034 series.

GIRLS VARSITY

The Lady Vikings opened their season with a night full of encouraging performances and several first-time varsity bowlers making an immediate impact.

Junior captain Annabeth Sembower earned Girls MVP honors with a composed and consistent 468 series (149–159–160), setting the pace for the team. Junior Danica Jackson added a strong 409, and junior Krysten Clary chipped in with a solid 366.

Jackson’s 406 series marks the first 400 series of her high school career and the highest series she has ever recorded.
The Vikings also welcomed five varsity debuts: Marlee Page, Eileen George, Layla Biller, Fiona Zelechowski, and Lacey Seretti. Each of them contributed important frames and gained valuable early-season experience.

JV RECAP

The JV Vikings kept the momentum rolling with a 7–0 win of their own. The lineup was filled with new bowlers making their first competitive appearance, and they handled it well. They were paced by Sophomore Jordan Jacobs and freshman Desmond Sembower making their Viking debuts.

The Vikings are proud to announce an enrollment of 26 bowlers this season — an impressive number after graduating 12 seniors last year. Hopewell Bowling now boasts the largest winter sports program at Hopewell, a testament to the growth and excitement surrounding the team.

Both the boys and girls programs expect to compete for playoff positions this year, setting the stage for an exciting season as the Vikings aim to build on a strong start.

The Vikings will be back in action on Friday as they take on the Beaver Bobcats at Center Lanes.