Anchored by four seniors, Muskies earn program’s first title by avenging last season’s championship setback to Waterloo West
It definitely feels really good to know I’ll be leaving my high school career as a state championship winner.”
Derrick Lewandowski, MHS senior bowler
WATERLOO – In the team photograph snapped minutes after Muscatine High School won its first Iowa Class 3A state bowling championship Tuesday night, senior Derrick Lewandowski was the only bowler to flash a smile for the camera.
“Our team tries to act all nonchalant and like they don’t care, but they really do,” senior Isaac Bravo said. “We might not have shown it, but we were extremely excited.”
And they should be.
A year after stumbling in the championship match to Waterloo West, Muscatine earned redemption, a state championship trophy and a banner at Cadillac XBC.
After recording the top preliminary score through 15 Baker games (five bowlers alternating frames), the Muskies beat Cedar Rapids Prairie 3-0 and Waterloo West 3-1 in the bracketed format to claim the title.
“It definitely feels really good to know I’ll be leaving my high school career as a state championship winner,” Lewandowski said. “I’m really happy we won that.”
Just like last year, the championship match went to four games. This time, the Muskies prevailed 238-221, 246-200, 190-221 and 200-147 against the Wahawks.
“Last year after we got second, it left a sour taste in our mouths,” MHS senior Erick Ford said. “It feels really good to win my senior year with all the friends that I’ve been bowling with for four years.”
Despite a runner-up finish in 2024, Muscatine admitted the experience of being in that environment last year paid dividends.
Muscatine, coached by Triscia Laucamp and Mindy Stoltzfus, was dialed in throughout the competition.
It compiled a 3,357 total in the 15 Baker qualifying games (223.8 average) to clip Waterloo West by 30 pins for the top seed.
“We try to focus on consistency,” Ford said. “A lot of teams bowl well. They have really good games, but they also have really, really bad games. If you can eliminate those bad ones and at least have (average scores) each game, that sets a lot of people apart in bowling.”
Junior Owen Riley is Muscatine’s leadoff bowler. Ford, Elijah Donath and Gabe Donath are usually in the 2, 3, 4 spots in some order and Lewandowski is the team’s anchor.
“What made us so special is our chemistry,” Bravo said. “Having four seniors in the starting lineup, we’ve bowled together for four years. We really got to know each other very well.
“Whenever we start falling apart, we always pick each other up and know how to make each other laugh.”
Chemistry is especially critical in a Baker format where each bowler handles only two frames per game.
“We try to keep it together, keep it consistent and make sure we’re picking up our spares,” senior Elijah Donath said. “Energy is a big thing.”
In a competition that lasted nearly six hours, Muscatine had very few lulls Tuesday.
It beat Cedar Rapids Prairie 239-193, 222-189 and 192-189 in the semifinals. Lewandowski had two strikes in the 10th frame to secure the third and final game against the Hawks.
The win was a confidence boost going into the finals.
“This whole year, we’ve been pretty bad in (a bracket format),” Lewandowski said. “We really rallied and focused on making our spares, taking deep breaths before each shot and making sure we threw good enough to strike on that first ball.
“It all came together today.”
After collecting its trophy and banner and posing for pictures, Muscatine had a celebratory dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.
“We’re definitely gonna celebrate and get dessert after,” Bravo said. “Fudge cake, ice cream and cheesecake, we definitely have some good options.”
Lewandowski, Ford and Gabe Donath have little time to rest. They are part of the 3A individual tournament at 9 a.m. Wednesday along with Zina Stoltzfus.
This was the first state-sanctioned championship for the program and the first for a Muscatine boys athletic team since Judd Anderson’s swim program reeled off three straight from 2011-13.
“It feels really good to be the first state champions of any team in the last decade,” Lewandowski said. “Our basketball team has a great shot this year and our Esports team has a chance.
“Muscatine sports has been coming together these past couple of years. I’m just glad this group of guys could get it done.”
