At New Trier, the girls bowling team has made its identity very clear: culture comes first, and success will follow. As a five-time Central Suburban League Conference title winning team with a current record of 7-3, the team’s goals consist of winning both the CSL Conference as well as the IHSA playoffs in February. They are currently tied for second place with Evanston in the CSL. With so many new members (nearly two-thirds of the team this year), the key to seeing the team’s hard work pay off lies in balancing competition with social connection in order to create strong bonds that will last even after the year ends.

“Every day, our goal is to get a little bit better—rolling every single ball with a purpose,” Hjelmgren said. “At matches and tournaments, our goal is to compete at our highest levels in both scoring as well as sportsmanship.”

This outlook is largely attributed to the team’s dynamic, especially with the addition of 11 new members this year, who have brought a newfound energy and enthusiasm to the group, according to Hjelmgren.

“The biggest strength of our team is its culture. We have an incredible group of student-athletes. They are positive, supportive, and determined to improve,” Hjelmgren said.

Senior captain Kirsten Hedberg is currently in sixth place overall in the CSL with a 157 average. Hedberg is surrounded by this culture nearly every day. 

“There’s a lot of new energy, and I feel like we have a really good bond with each other and they’re learning as much as we are,” Hedberg said. “We have a lot of fun at practice—we’re having fun while focusing.”

This kind of team bond did not form overnight—it took effort from both the members and the coach in order to create the safe and supportive environment that it is now.

“The past two seasons we have really focused on what it means to be a “great teammate,” Hjelmgren explained. “We work intentionally on living through our standards and values. This includes supporting each other on and off the lanes, pushing through adversity, and staying positive and composed.”

This sportsmanship and team bond is put to the test through one of New Trier’s biggest traditions and heated rivalries with Evanston—after tournaments, the winner gets control of “The Pin,” which is a traveling trophy. 

The team played Evanston on Jan. 8, and won with a three-game series total of 2149. The eight-pin margin was the second closest in the history of the rivalry, and New Trier has won the last three meetings and leads the overall series 18-15. According to Hjelmgren, “The Pin” goes back up for grabs on Jan. 29 at Classic Bowl.

For Devitt, who is currently in third place overall in the CSL with a 167 average, being part of the team and its traditions have become more meaningful with time. 

“The more years you’re [on the team], it actually starts to make sense: this is where we can achieve success if we actually put in all the effort we possibly can,” Devitt said.

With a young roster, consistency can be a challenge, but the captains’ leadership and guidance is a stabilizing force.

“Naturally, one challenge for any young squad is maintaining competitive intensity for an entire match or tournament,” Hjelmgren said. “As we work toward the homestretch of the season, we will continue to focus on micro-goals, focusing energy into single frames and shots. Our captains are well-versed in this practice and will certainly help lead the charge.”

This leadership is already aimed at the future, with plans for the team to help rookies and other varsity members gain more experience with leadership, especially with the upcoming CSL Conference tournament on Jan. 31.

“We basically just want to show them the expectations we want them to carry on, whether that’s traditions, chants, and how we want the environment to be,” Devitt explained.

Hedberg sees the season as a chance to create and leave behind something that will last.

“We have the opportunity to build this new culture this year, and we want to build it in a way where everyone is close—after we leave, we want them to continue pursuing a path towards state again in the future,” Hedberg said.