Lafayette’s bowling teams have managed to go under the radar in this year’s season.

There are three bowling teams at Lafayette, Lafayette Alpha Squad, Lafayette Bravo Squad and Lafayette Future, which is made up of mostly freshmen.

Three teams were needed because there were too many people for everyone on the team to participate.

“You can have a minimum five people on each one and some of us have six or seven. We can’t combine them into one team because only five people bowl at a time,” junior John Landsdown said.

The three teams played in tournaments and practicing all year. However, the high point for the bowlers’ season draws nearer: the Missouri State High School Tournament.

The tournament takes place on May 29, and attending teams will compete to be crowned best team in the state.

For the state tournament, the best players from the three teams will make one team which will compete.

The members of the competing team are juniors Tyler Kondrick, Alex MacFarland, Sean McGarity, Michael Reno, Austin Smith, Ryan Wesley and freshman TJ Landsdown. 

To compete in the tournament, the teams had to qualify on April 11, which the team achieved with fourth place. To qualify, the team needed to be in the top six teams.

Last year, the team made it past regionals but was unable to win in the state tournament.

The team’s chances are higher this year, due to the weekly practices they have.

“Every single one of them has raised their average ten or twenty pins,” Coach Karen Landsdown said.

The team is still practicing for the day of the tournament and is optimistic about the results.

“I think if [the team] practices enough they will do just fine,” John Landsdown said.