DES MOINES — Clarke senior girls bowler LeeAnn Helgevold has been a steadying presence in the lineup the past four seasons.
Her coach, and father, Dale Helgevold has relied on his oldest daughter to be the guiding force for the Lady Indians.
LeeAnn Helgevold capped her career with a 17th-place finish in the Class 1A state tournament Monday at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines.
“Just the way she has progressed from a freshman through her senior year has been great,” coach Helgevold said. “From a coaching aspect, she’s been fantastic. She’s the one you lean on, your anchor. She’s the one you want in there in the tough situations.”
As a father, the joy he has for his daughter shines.
“As a parent, she makes us proud for all of the time and effort that has been put in doing a sport she loves,” coach Helgevold said. “It’s great to see she’s doing what she’s doing. Now she’ll move on to the next level.”
Lane conditions were difficult for the individual qualifiers. Only three were on the lane, leaving it difficult to break in properly.
“The lane conditions were hard to adapt to at first,” LeeAnn Helgevold said. “There was no one to burn a line for me.”
LeeAnn Helgevold struggled in the first game, rolling a 145.
“She had good shots, but wasn’t getting anything to carry,” coach Helgevold said. “She was plugging away the best she could.”
Game two went much better for Clarke’s senior leader. She finished her high school career with a 221 second game.
“My second game I found my line and powered through,” she said.
Brock Bucy fought the game conditions as LeeAnn Helgevold. He rolled a 186 first game, the turned it on in the second with a 204 and a 390 series, good for a 22nd place finish.
The short series left little margin for error.
“You’ve got to go out with what they give you, make those adjustments,” coach Helgevold said. “Unfortunately, those adjustments didn’t come as quick as we wanted too.”
Bucy keeps
growing
Bucy continued to show solid growth through his junior campaign.
“He’s progressed amazingly over the past three years,” coach Helgevold said “We had him in youth league before high school. We’re fortunate to have him for another year. He has really stepped up in some difficult times and done what we’ve asked of him.”
Much will be expected of their returning state qualifier next season.
“We’ll be looking to him to be the boys leader next year going forward,” coach Helgevold said.
The team enjoyed one of its most memorable seasons, coach Helgevold noted.
One way came in the community service project the team did. People and businesses in the community made pledges for every 200 game thrown or a flat donation. The girls and boys combined for 36 200 games thrown between individual and Bakers. The goal was to raise $500 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The teams raised more than $1,400.
The way they improved throughout the season was impressive.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way they finished,” coach Helgevold said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how the way the players presented Clarke when they would go anywhere. They are a top-notch group of kids, great athletes, great sportsmen.”
Clarke’s sportsmanship impressed their coach.
“Win or lose, they were congratulating the other team,” coach Helgevold said. “It’s not about wins and losses. It’s how you grow as individuals. I’ve seen huge growth from that.”
LeeAnn Helgevold finishes her high school career as a three-year state qualifier.
She has almost all of the Clarke girls bowling school records, except for being part of the highest team score at state.
She set the school record game and school record series at the state qualifying meet with a 254 game and a 449 series.
LeeAnn Helgevold’s growth from a freshman to a senior has been a joy for her coach to watch.
“Just the way she progressed from a freshman through her senior year has been in a coaching aspect fantastic,” coach Helgevold said.
Ending it at state was fitting for her.
“I never thought I wild be a three-time state qualifier,” LeeAnn Helgevold said. “I couldn’t be happier with ending my career at the state tournament.”
Now it’s time for her to take her bowling talents to Sioux City.
“Over the past four years, I have learned to adjust to lane conditions,” LeeAnn Helgevold said. “I have bowled on many lane conditions and do all I can to adjust to make a good shot. This will be highly beneficial when bowling in college.”
Having her father Dale, and mother Lori, and coaches made the journey more special for LeeAnn.
“It has meant so much for me for my parents also to be my coaches,” LeeAnn Helgevold said. “They hold me to a very high standard that I do my best to exceed every day.”
Dale was a proud father Monday.
“We look at these kids as our own and when they are our own, it makes it more special,” coach Helgevold said “Damon (their oldest son) made two appearances at the state tournament, which was absolutely amazing. Now LeeAnn has three. (Youngest child) Landi has three more years to bowl. As parents, it’s double-sided. We take pleasure as a coach. We also have to step back as a parent and take that moment to be proud.”
Being part of the bowling program at Clarke is one LeeAnn Helgevold relished.
“It has been more than I could ever imagine,” she said. “It has been an experience I will never forget.”