There will be a new area bowling team in Section 9 this year as Marlboro High School has joined the ranks, as more than 35 candidates signed up for tryouts.

While many other teams are looking for a return to normal after a season filled with virtual meets, the Dukes are forging a new path with a new sports program, coached by Lance Downer.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of kids that signed up for tryouts,” Downer said. “It looks like we have some good bowlers that will make Marlboro proud.”

Like most bowling teams, they’ll have to do some traveling as there is no facility in Marlboro, and they will make their home at Pat Tarsio Lanes, a home they will share with the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks.

The two teams will face each other twice: Marlboro and Newburgh will face each other to start the Dukes’ season on Dec. 7 and they will meet again at the end of the season on Feb. 1.

While Downer’s goal is for the boys’ and girls’ teams to have fun while Marlboro’s newest sport adjusts to its league and competition, Downer hopes to field a competitive team.

“We look forward to having fun this year and ‘making some noise’ so the rest of the league knows the Dukes are here to stay,” Downer said.

To the north, the Highland boys’ and girls’ teams are on two different trajectories as the boys’ team looks to rebuild after losing four starters from last year’s 4-4 team, while the girls’ team looks to improve on last season’s 3-5 record.

Gavin Landry and Andrew Lamark will return to the team as the Huskies look to improve each day.

“Gavin Landry will shine this year individually, but the team is definitely in a rebuilding mode,” Highland coach Peter Forman said.

They’ll mix with newcomers Dan Westover, Michael Duncan, Kieran Surprise, Brayden Surprise, Matthew Stueber and Peter Arciuolo.

“We have six new bowlers who are mostly new to bowling,” Forman said. “We want to improve each day and try to eventually become competitive,” Forman said.

The Huskies’ girls’ team is coming off a rebuilding season last winter, and the process will continue this year with no departed athletes and returnees in Olivia Casabura, Izzy Gaylor, Daphne Valenzuela, Camryn Moschitta and Katie Capobianco.

With the addition of Jessica Martell, Kailanni Angelillo and Libby Harris, Forman is looking for the Huskies to be competitive, keep improving and have fun.

“We are still rebuilding but I think this team will be competitive against most of our competition,” Forman said.

Last winter’s season was limited to the end of January and February and the teams were only able to get in eight matches each and the meets were done virtually.

The Huskies will be back in their home lanes at Spins Bowl in Poughkeepsie and meets will again be in-person.