Versailles’ Sam Albers throws a strike during Saturday’s match with Coldwater at Plamor Lanes. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
As the MAC conference schedules comes down to its final weeks, competition amps up and athletes struggle with the disappointment that comes with it…the natural order of things and an important life lesson.
Coldwater, OH – Versailles bowling coach Tyler Phlipot might have a psychology degree tucked away someplace out of sight. And you need one if you’re a coach.
Because aside from teaching the techniques of how to punt, pass, and kick…or shoot, defend, and rebound…hit the head pin and pick up your spares…the psychology of dealing with failure and disappointment with any sport is every bit as important as high-fives during the good times.
Example?
Phlipot’s Versailles girls trailed league-leading Coldwater going into Saturday’s competition at Plamor Lanes, needed a win for standing and confidence. And on one of those days when the always-tough Plamor house takes more than it gives…Versailles came up 69 pins short.
“Nothing is going to be like you want it to be all the time. It’s a life lesson. You have to trust in yourself.” – Versailles coach Tyler Phlipot (above)
“We just couldn’t get over the hump,” said Phlipot, after a long team meeting where he had to soothe that disappointment, along with hurt feelings.
“Disappointment is a part of life, and a life lesson,” he continued. “And that’s what we talked about today. You have to have confidence, and confidence in your teammates to have your back. You can’t dwell on it. You have to move on. I do my best to let them know that nothing is going to be like you want it to be all the time. You have to trust in yourself. We all make mistakes.
“You can put too much pressure on yourself, and we have kids that do that,” he adds. “They try to do more than they’re capable of doing. They forget sometimes that I don’t need them to shoot 250. I just need them to shoot 190. But they’re young, they’re competitive, and they want it. And as a coach that’s what you want to see. But at the same time, you can’t let the mental aspect affect your game. If you make a bad shot put it behind you and move on. You have to trust that you have the talent to get it done.”
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Likewise, Phlipot’s boys team went into Saturday’s action tied for second behind undefeated Coldwater…with a chance to secure at least a share of the conference lead. And like any other sport, you prepare for that mentally, as well.
“We talked about it this week,” said Phlipot. “Coldwater is going to do the Coldwater thing. They’re going to make shots and string strikes. We’ve got kids that can do that, but we have to make spares. Keep things clean. If you leave a tough ten pin you pick it up and move on. We focus on our strengths, the things we can control, and at the end of the day we’ll see what happens.”
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“We spent the week trying to stay focused,” said senior Sam Albers, a two-sport athlete at Versailles (football). “No one can do it by themselves. We can definitely beat ’em, but we have to stay together and it’ll take our best game to do it.”
The regular season is waning down to its last couple of weeks before tournament action begins. And like other sports, for kids who bowl there is that same passion to bowl well in the the tournament. It’s a yearly goal at Coldwater to make it to Columbus, where collectively the boys and girls teams in the past have won nine times. Versailles has made it to state in the past (eight times), but never won the title.
“We have to do what we can do, control what we can control,” added Albers, whose high game, all-time, is a 290 at McBo’s, in Versailles. “They’re a good program, but it’s a new team every year. I try to visualize that day when I bowled 290. Hit your mark every time, rely on muscle memory, and don’t let other things enter your mind. Just focus on your game and go.”
Coldwater sophomore Carter Miller led the Cavs Saturday to a 6-0 league mark win with a 236 and 214.
Phlipot would nod his head in agreement, but Saturday turned out to be another life lesson as head-to-head Coldwater did what Coldwater does. Carter Brown rolled a 236 and 214…Braylon Brown had a 222 and 214…Andrew Myers rolled a 223 and a 208…Andrew Schulze had a 233…and Clay Schulze had a team-high 247 as the Cavaliers swept past Versailles by 419 pins…3077 to 2658.
For Versailles, Sam Albers best on Saturday turned out to be a 208, the only 200 game the Tigers could muster on the always-tough Plamor lanes.
Coldwater improved to 6-0 in conference play, and 10-1, overall. St. Henry defeated Minster Saturday, 2,899 to 2,483 to grab sole possession of second place. Versailles and Fort Recovery are tied for third place with 4-2 league records.
Other top games Saturday included Fort Recovery’s Reece LeFerve with a 235 and 234.
New Bremen’s Vinny Goings had a 229, while teammate Luke Long rolled a 210.
St. Henry’s Nick Lefeld bowled a 223, Jenson Siefring had a 207 and a 200, and Jack Siefring rolled a 213.
Parkway’s Camden Pierstorff rolled a 220 and 206.
Marion Local Isaac Schulze had a 208.
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In the girls flight on Saturday….
Fort Recovery’s Deanna Brown had the only 200 game with a 208, followed by 195.
And Fort Recovery’s Lilah Thien rolled a 198.
Fort Recovery and Coldwater are tied for the conference lead, each with a 5-0 mark.
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