Making it through sectionals allowed both the boys and girls bowling teams to move on to the district competition. While the records were different, the result was the same for both teams. Neither advanced past the district level.

The 9-1 boys team finished first in the sectionals Feb. 8 and has been busy over the past two months.

A win over Walsh Dec. 16 prepared the team for the tournaments. The team bowled into fifth place in a Dec. 27 tournament, while the New Year's Eve tournament ended with the Knights in sixth place.

Junior Greg Walker is happy about the team's overall performance.

"We did pretty well at the tournaments, but we missed too many easy spares," he said. "That cost us the win."

The Knights defeated Ellet Jan. 13 and Norton Jan. 20. The as-yet undefeated Barberton Magics proved no match for the talent of the also-undefeated Knights when the two teams met Jan. 27. Hoban experienced its first lost to Firestone at AMF Lanes Feb. 3 but bounced right back to defeat St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Although the Knights did not advance past the district level, junior Doug Morhac is satisfied with the team's performance as a whole.

"We had a great season," he said. "Although we were expecting to go further, we still played our best."

Over the past two months, the 5-5 girls team has been bowling up a storm. The Knights lost to Springfield Dec. 18 and placed fifth at the holiday tournament at Midway Lanes Dec. 27. The team was 14 pins shy of being in fourth place and advancing to the next round.

Senior Michelle Webb, who bowled her personal best at the holiday tournament, figured out a team strategy.

"Bowling well on our first game is key," she said. "If after the first game we are 100 pins behind, it is difficult to come out on top."

The girls team lost to Ellet Jan. 8 and to North Jan. 15. The Knights managed to beat Walsh Jan. 9 at Midway Lanes. Unfortunately, the match against Firestone Jan. 22 at Stonehedge ended in a defeat for Hoban.

Senior Lyndsey Sanzone was eager for the team's luck to change.

"I hope we begin to win again," she said, "because I am tired of losing."

Sanzone's wish was granted as the team beat Kenmore Feb. 6, Chippewa Feb. 12 and Our Lady of the Elms Feb. 13, inching the team's record to an even 5-5. The Knights placed fourth at sectionals Feb. 8 at magic City Lanes in Barberton, then proceeded to districts Feb. 15 at the Hall of Fame Lanes in Canton, where they placed seventh of 17 teams. However, only the top six teams advanced and the Knights were 83 pins shy of that mark.

"We tried our best, and that's all that can be expected," Webb said. "The combination of our individual scores was over 700, which is our best ever."

While Feb. 15 didn't turn out to be Turkey Day (three strikes in a row), both teams seemed satisfied with the results.