Thomas Jefferson ‘assassin’ bowlers win 100th match in program history

The Thomas Jefferson High School bowling team has reached a new level of success after their win over Decatur on Nov. 19.

The Raiders won their 100th match as a program over Decatur 2015-1481 on pin count, and now have an all-time record of 100-26 since 2011.

“It feels good. I’m proud of my team. We have made a lot of progress in the last four years. So it feels good,” senior Alena McDugle said.

There has been a lot of change in the Raider program, but the one constant since 2012 is Head Coach Joe Townsend.

With a bit of foreshadow, Townsend had players from his first season as the bowling head coach in attendance at Secoma Lanes for this momentous day in Federal Way bowling history.

“It’s everything to have alumni here. No matter where these young ladies go in life, knowing that this was a part of pushing them is huge … Alena will hopefully come back and show that the younger ladies know that bowling means something. There should be some expectations when you put on a Lady Raiders jersey to excel,” Townsend said.

Thomas Jefferson has had a ton of success recently in just the past four years. As a team, the Raiders have finished fifth (2022) and third (2023) in the last two state tournaments. Seniors including Emily Kropp, Samyia Gildon and McDugle have bowled at the highest level in the state the past two seasons.

“We have built a relationship where we can kind of work off each other … We’ve just improved a lot, we just grow in confidence as well (as the year goes on),” McDugle said.

That experience leads Thomas Jefferson bowling to be “assassins” on the lanes, as Townsend described.

“They’re all assassins. At the end of the day they are trying to destroy you on the lanes,” Townsend said.

The Raiders have added another assassin, one whose aim is to destroy their opponents on the lanes. That bowler is freshman Lealah Tiquia, who is poised to carry the Raiders to the next level. She led the Raiders with a 408 two game series, with a 206 and 202, respectively.

“It feels good having her on my team and not having to bowl against her,” McDugle said.

Gildon had the second highest total with 338 through the two games, which was higher than every Decatur bowler. Every single Thomas Jefferson bowler finished with a higher total than every Decatur bowler, which isn’t a knock on Decatur. That is just how good this Raider side is.

“We’ve barely lost matches the last four years. We have placed top five in state. There is that pressure we have to bowl good, but we are also a family, so we have fun no matter what,” McDugle said.

She noted that a state championship is the goal for this Raider team.

The Titans were up 1697-1223 after the two standard games, then in the Baker games, the Raiders won both there as well.

Given the success and the consistency of the Raiders bowling team, there is starting to be more respect in and around the school for the bowling team.

“When they bowled, people didn’t take it serious. People even at your own school. Banners get hung for every other sport. But these young ladies going to nationals and finishing top in state, no one is taking them serious,” Townsend said.

It is starting to mean something.

There are going to be two college level bowlers on this Thomas Jefferson roster.

“The sport is growing not just in our league but statewide. Our ability has continued to stay consistent with what you saw out here today. It’s been a fun ride,” Townsend said.

Thomas Jefferson’s next match is Nov. 26 at Secoma Lanes against Federal Way.