Pikeville High School head bowling coach Jesse Hawkins has been helping the fledgling program get off the ground. Hawkins, came into the job after finding a lot of success on the lanes.
Hawkins took home top honors in 2021-22 by winning the United States Bowling Congress National High Average Award with a 257.4 average over the course of 90 games at Hatfield & McCoy Recreation Center in Williamson, WV. It was the highest average ever recorded in West Virginia and the 4th highest average ever recorded Nationally. During that season, he recorded three 300 games and six 800 series.
In 2022-23, he held a 252.02 average over 87 games, finishing just a little behind the National leading score of 253.52. He also had three 300 games and two 800 series.
Hawkins is now working on a new challenge by guiding Pikeville’s bowling program. The Panthers had their first season ever on the lanes and had 14 boys and 7 girls on the team. They had no balls or shoes to begin with but bought into the program. The boys finished 5th out of 18 teams and the girls finished 12th out of 16 teams in Region 8.
“It’s been a pleasure to share the game I love with the kids and see the enjoyment they have gotten out of it,” said Hawkins. “All of them have only been bowling since October 2023.”
The Panthers even had one boy make the All Region All Star Team. Senior Dylan Thompson made the squad. Thompson is a talented athlete who has already signed to play baseball at Wabash College.
Hawkins currently has an average of 245 this season but hasn’t bowled full time due to his duties helping his young team grow.
With his own track record of success, it will be fun to see how the Panther program continues to grow under Hawkins.
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