The bowling season at Nouvel Catholic Central wrapped up with much to celebrate! The team has continued to grow and seen increased success each year, with new records set this year.

Compared to most of the varsity sports at Nouvel, the program hasn’t existed very long. A little over 8 years ago, Nouvel’s bowling program began. The school was blessed with a strong supporter in Mrs. Gerry LeFevre, who saw the potential and believed interest as a varsity sport existed. They started as a pacer team since they were not part of the Tri-Valley Conference, but ended up joining the TVC the next year. Meredith Adelman, Girls Varsity Bowling Coach, shared, “Our teams were small in the beginning and many thought it wouldn't last because students would not want to give up every Saturday to bowl in matches. With one coach, rented shoes and alley balls, we competed and had a blast. The teams continued to grow and we have tripled our numbers since that first year.” This growth has allowed the team to continue to attract more students and enjoy competition at a higher level.

This year, Nouvel bowling saw its largest rosters, with 15 girls and 17 boys participating. The girls team improved through the season and earned some of the best scores of the season as they finished strong at regionals. With the leadership of 9 seniors to set the tone, the younger Panthers are learning and eager for next year.

The boys team has been building the last few years. Four years ago, Brian Montini took over as the boys coach at Nouvel. He knew from the beginning that there was something special with the team and especially one individual. He shared, “The very first year, our team got a glimpse of something special in Alex McCarthy as he qualified individually for Division 4 States and reached the semifinals. He lost by a mere handful of pins to the top seed. This was a learning experience for us at the postseason level. Our second season was an excellent follow-up. We won our first regional team title in Nouvel history and qualified two individual bowlers. That year, Alex was able to win the school’s first-ever Division 4 individual state title.” 

The last two seasons, the team won two more Division 4 regional team titles. They also qualified four individual contestants in our region and two individuals this year. This year was an amazing one for the bowlers and Coach Montini, “The graduation of Alex and Noah (my son) makes this year special for me. I had coached both of them from freshman year, and both qualified for the state tournament individually.” The team went on to finish ninth overall at states, and Alex McCarthy won yet another Division 4 individual state title. 

Coach Montini shared one more reason for the growth and success, “At NCC, my belief is teamwork is the key to winning. Whether you're at a match, practicing, at school or hanging out, enjoy the ride! One of the beautiful aspects of this sport is its two-sided nature: it's a team sport and an individual sport at the same time. It's fun to see everyone contributing their unique skills to something bigger than themselves. If you look at the big picture, the bowling lanes can be a real battleground, but a solid team is always ready to step up and turn that tough game into a fun, lasting memory. Embrace the challenge, cherish the memories, and enjoy the company of your teammates!”

With 22 varsity and club sports at Nouvel, Panthers have many opportunities to explore their unique gifts and compete outside of the classroom. Panther student-athletes receive the benefit of smaller class sizes and individualized attention in the classroom, while having many incredible opportunities to shine on the lanes and as leaders in their community. For more information on Nouvel athletics, please visit www.NouvelCatholic.org/Explore.

Note: Since the article was written, Alex McCarthy won the 2025 Mr. Bowler award and was honored on Sunday, April 13th.