Growing up around the game of bowling her whole life, Heather Wolf ’12 was bound to take the sport on someday. She did not just become a bowler but one of the best to ever walk through S.H.S. Her passion first came from her dad, current girls’ bowling coach Loren Wolf, who taught her just about everything she knows.

Wolf rolled her first ball at the age of two and continued well into her college years and then some. Her bowling career took off during her high school years, breaking countless records, and making an appearance at state three out of her four years on the bowling team.

Wolf said, “Going to state the first of the three times was most exciting because it had been so long since the last time the Sterling bowling team made it to state. The second time was my junior year which was fun. The third time was my senior year which was the most emotional state experience being my last high school bowling event.”

Among her record-breaking years, Wolf accomplished a total of ten S.H.S. records. These records consist of individual season records: highest season average (199.9), all-time high game (298), high three-game series (819), high six-game series (1390), most 700 series (3), most 800 series (1), and individual career records: highest all-time average (189.8), most 700 series (3), most 800 series (1), and most 1300 series (3).

Dennis Black, Wolf’s coach for all four years of her bowling career, said, “In the opening match of her senior season, she bowled 819 which is the second-best showing in IHSA bowling history. She was a part of a state-qualified team in her freshman season and the leader for Sterling’s state qualifying teams in her junior and senior years. She ended her senior season with a NIB-12 League 212 average, 298 game, 819 Series, and 200 season average.”

Not only did she have an impressive bowling career but she was also a natural-born leader and teammate. Former teammate and friend Destinee Howard ’14 shared, “Heather was always great about lifting the team up and focused on her game as well as others. She was simply a great friend and a wonderful teammate.”

Wolf wanted the best not only for herself but the whole team as she pushed everyone to better themselves as an athlete. Brandy (Behrens) Hall ’13 was a teammate of Wolf’s for several years and recognized the notable qualities she possessed.

“She’s a natural-born leader. If she was having a bad game, she didn’t take it out on us. She helped push us to make it up. She knew when we were stuck in our heads and how to relax,” Hall said.

Black also said, “Heather’s leadership came to the forefront during her sophomore season and blossomed as that season and the following two seasons progressed.”

It is no doubt that Wolf was a leader and competitor and will carry these traits with her for years to come. Playing a sport for the majority of her life taught her a variety of lessons that still influences her today. Wolf said, “I think the best part about competing and how it has affected me now is that I have high expectations for myself and those I surround myself with. It built confidence that I needed to continue my bowling career through college and to take with me throughout my life in general.”

All in all, Wolf dominated the lanes with her talents and leadership throughout her entire high school bowling career and will forever leave an impact on the girls’ bowling team.