Struthers standout bowler Clare Coppola is going through her junior year. She has won a lot of awards at many different tournaments. 

Last year, the Wildcats made their way to state for the second time in Coppola’s high school career, so she already knows something about being good. This year, the girls’ bowling team is still undefeated, rolling over any opponent that gets in their way. The Wildcats are all very good individually, but when you put them all on a team, it makes them unstoppable. 

Coppola likes knowing that her team is always there for her if she needs them. 

“It’s a team sport, so if someone does bad or I do bad that day, it’s okay because I have the rest of my team there to pick me up and I am there also,” says Coppola. 

Bowling is a fun sport that many people will just go and do for a day out of the house, but for Coppola, it’s been her whole life. Starting at five years old, she’s loved going and competing with her dad and brother. It’s something she loves, and she hopes to compete at the collegiate level one day. 

She looks to her family to motivate her to keep getting better and working hard. 

“My dad and brother were both very good bowlers, so my goal is to score higher than them. That makes me want to keep going,” says Coppola. 

Coppola’s highest score this season is a 245. She wants to work to get a high score and also make the First Team All Conference. They still have many games ahead and need to keep staying consistent. The hardest is yet to come for this team with the playoffs coming up and the hope to make it to state again. 

The team still has to play their biggest competition soon. 

“We are always going back and forth with Boardman who wins, so we have to stay consistent for our matches against them,” says Coppola.