EMMITSBURG, Md. (July 21, 2023) – Mount Bowling announces the addition of three student-athletes ahead of the 2023-24 season. The freshmen trio consists of Alyssa Balest (Irwin, Pa.), Piper Chalmers (Silver Creek, Wash.) and Leah Varela (Brick, N.J.).
 
Alyssa Balest / Irwin, Pennsylvania | Penn-Trafford High School
 
Balest joins a long line of Mountaineers from the Keystone State, including rising sophomore Aliza Shirk. The accomplished Penn-Trafford graduate led her team to a top 10 finish at the PIAA State Championships as well as finishing top 10 individually. She finished second at the PA USBC Youth Open Championships and placed in the top quarter of the field at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships. She carries a 204 average, 286 high game and 716 high series.
 
Piper Chalmers / Silver Creek, Washington | W.F. West High School
 
Chalmers is the first Mountaineer from the Evergreen State but joins current team members Alyssa Alexander and Trishelle Leal Uribe in being from the West Coast. The 2022 Washington State U18 Pepsi Champion is a 12-time title holder on the Junior Bowlers Tour (JBT) and placed an impressive 46th out of 570 competitors at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships. An individual high school state champion in 2022, she has a top five PWBA Regional finish on her resume. Chalmers carried a 233.6 high school average to go with a 288 high game and 743 high series.
 
Leah Varela / Brick, New Jersey | Brick Memorial High School 
 
Varela joins returning sophomore Gianna McGahan as the second Mountaineer to come from the garden state. The two-time Brick Memorial team captain has one individual state championship and three team state championships during her terrific high school career. This included an undefeated season from the BMHS ladies in the 2021-22 season. She finished 59th at the 2022 Junior Gold Championship and has a perfect 300 game on her resume to go with a 203 high school average and 784 high series.
 
"Our excitement with this incoming class could not be any higher," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "We are returning our top four frame averages from last season and this group will only come in and create an internal healthy competition that raises our roof further. I predict a higher scoring pace for us in 2023-24 that will see us be a force in collegiate bowling. The goal is to get this program back to USBC and NCAA nationals. These ladies will play an important role in helping make that happen."
 
The NCAA Bowling season officially begins on October 1st and a schedule announcement for the 2023-24 season will be posted soon.