[Update: On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Clinton boys team defeated perenial bowling powerhouse Lehman High School to run their record to 11-0 and secure the title of the Bronx’s best bowlers. With a victory in their final match next week, Clinton would finish the season undefeated for the first time ever.]

Tables clutter around the entrance to Gun Post Lanes, the Bronx bowling alley that hosts most of DeWitt Clinton High School’s varsity matches. Toward the back door, there’s a small empty bar and a TV showing football highlights. The quiet scene is interrupted by a crash, followed by shouts of joy.

It’s the sound of victory for Clinton’s thriving bowling program, including an undefeated boys team and winning girls team. For years, Clinton bowling has lagged behind the competition. But this year, they’re destroying the competition with a lovable cast of characters.

Taking the stairs to the left, following the sounds of shouted encouragements and pins knocking, a small girl comes out of nowhere wearing a ’70s pink poodle skirt and a red DeWitt Clinton T-shirt and joins her teammates.

It was ‘70s Day at Clinton and she had rushed to the game without changing.

Before the next match begins, a young man wearing a black Clinton shirt comes up to the giddy group of girls and says, “Good luck.” The girls reciprocate wholeheartedly.

The young bowler walks over to his fellow teammates and their coach Mark Morey huddled in the corner. Morey gives a quick pep talk and after a team chant, it’s game on.

“We all support each other,” senior Frendy Tejada says. “The girls come support us and we support the girls.”

“We all enjoy doing this and it brings all of us closer together,” adds senior Jason Diedrick.

The players of both the girls and boys bowling teams are positive role models, Morey says. The majority of both teams are seniors and getting ready for college. Most take advanced placement classes and take part in other extracurricular activities.

 “These are great kids,” Morey says. “I would not take a team picture without the whole team. These are really great kids.”

Bowling may be a sport for them, but it’s also a stress reliever.

“We all do a lot,” says the girls senior captain Omaira Jeiada. “But for me, knowing that I will be bowling later and being with my friends gets me through the rest of the day. It’s a great way to get rid of stress, in a good way,”

Both teams won their games that day at Gun Post Lanes. The girls team recently lost to traditional bowling power Lehman, with two forfeits also on their resume. They are now 4-3.  But the boys continue to win big.  

“Last year we went 9-3,” said boys senior Nikola Kesar. “So our goal is to be undefeated for the season. We are seniors and that would be the best way to finish up our last year.”