Left to Right: Coach Steve Petricevic, Joey Parker, Elly Van Dyk, Thomas Tomkins, Darcy Schultz. (Photo: Supplied)

By Abby Zieverink

Representing Alberta

Grande Prairie five-pin bowling team gears up for nationals in Kelowna

Mar 15, 2022 | 6:00 AM

A five-pin bowling team from northern Alberta is gearing up to represent Alberta at the 2022 Nationals Five-pin Bowling Championship next month in Kelowna.

This is the second time in over 20 years a team from northern Alberta has had the opportunity to represent the province nationals.

Team North from Grande Prairie includes Coach Steve Petricevic, Joey Parker, Elly Van Dyk, Thomas Tomkins, Darcy Schultz, who won the Alberta Provincial Five-pin Championship this past January in Stettler. That clinched them a spot at the national championship.

Petricevic says the provincial win was an interesting one for the team,

“We faced North A, who’s the defending provincial champions that went to nationals in 2020,” he explained.

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“We got up there and we bowled each other, my team was sitting there looking at the scoreboard because they don’t understand the format completely and after walking off the lanes I said, “Hey guys, we won that match!” They looked up and said “How?” and I said, “It’s a pins over average tournament, anything is possible.” And from that point on, they never looked back.”

Now, gearing up for the national event, Petricevic says they are going in with the strategy of “Bowling Us,” and focusing on their mental game.

“I look at bowling as a mental game, it’s a physical aspect that you have to compare and get yourself mentally ready prior to physically,” he said.

“So, preparing for this event here we will try to kind of get together as a team, bond a little bit, and go chuck a few games and create that team atmosphere, and strive from there.”

He says the team is looking forward to representing Alberta on a national level.

“The team is excited. It is going to be a great experience for them. We have one bowler (Thomas Tomkins) on the team that has had national experience in YBC in his younger days and the rest of the team hasn’t yet, so it’ll be pretty exciting to get everyone on track and head out that way.”

Petricevic says that he has also gone to nationals back in the day, adding that it has been nice for both himself and Tomkins to share their national experience with the rest of the team.

“I think that’s what makes it so exciting because I think there are some expectations from us, so helping share that momentum and that energy going into nationals with the remaining team.”

Petricevic adds they plan to make nationals an opportunity they will never forget.

Nationals will be held April 21 to 23, Kelowna and Vernon B.C.