The Penn State Altoona women's bowling program enters its 2022-23 season with a balance of returners and newcomers, as the Lions welcome back four players from last year's roster and add four new players this year.

The team's returners consist of senior Kaitlyn Estright (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll), juniors Chloe Mazza (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) and Breanna Yarnall (Bedford, PA/Bedford), and sophomore Angela Bunk (Patton, PA/Southern Regional). Mazza led Penn State Altoona in baker average (15.76 per frame) last season, while Yarnall was first on the team in traditional average (144.4 per game). Estright finished last year with a 12.72 per frame baker average and a 122.6 per game traditional average, and Bunk competed in one event after being a late-season addition to the team.

"Chloe, Breanna, Angela, and Kaitlyn – our four returning bowlers – have been a positive influence on the new bowlers for our team," said Penn State Altoona head coach Elizabeth Rhodes, who is in her second season with the program. "They have helped guide the new bowlers on and off the lanes and came back ready to bowl and have a great season. They have improved their games, and the coaching staff can't wait to see what this season will bring."

Penn State Altoona's roster is rounded out by four additions to the team: sophomore Isabelle Forcey (Clearfield, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) and freshmen Kennedie Lauver (New Berlin, PA/Mifflinburg), Maddy Sosko (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe), and Brooke Yarnall (Bedford, PA/Bedford).

"Isabelle, Kennedie, Brooke, and Maddy are new to the team this year, and they bring a lot of talent to the lanes," said Rhodes. "With just a few practices under their belts, they have shown tremendous improvement with their bowling."

Penn State Altoona opens its 2022-23 schedule this Saturday, November 12, when the Lions will be this year's hosts of the annual Unicorn Invitational. This season's edition of the yearly event will be held at the Lions' home lanes, the F.A. Gerhart Lanes at the Bavarian Aid Society in Altoona.

The rest of Penn State Altoona's schedule is comprised of the two Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference regular season round robins (Nov. 19-20, Feb. 4-5), the annual Saint Francis University Red Flash Invitational (Jan. 27-29), the Mount Aloysius College Mid-State Mountie Classic (Mar. 4-5), and a dual match against Mount Aloysius (Mar. 11). Should the team qualify for the AMCC postseason tournament, the Lions' season would be extended later in March.

To find success this season, Rhodes pinpoints several areas on which her team will need to focus.

"The ladies will need to keep a positive attitude and uplift each other this season," she stated. "Making the marks and getting good pin counts will help their game, as will not letting the pressure of tournaments get in the way. Overall, I know the ladies can beat last year's record and go further this season."