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Kennewick girls bowling teammates -- and sisters -- senior Amanda Blackketter and sophomore Brittany Blackketter helped pilot the Lions to the 2009 4A district championship and hope to continue their run at the state tournament Friday at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.
And according to Kennewick coach Oscar Garnica, Amanda and Brittany have proven themselves as a dependable presence throughout the season to both each other and their teammates.
"I think it's been a strength," Garnica said of having the sibling dynamos on the roster. "Because of the situations they've suffered through life. And when I think about it, they're real close-knit and because of that the girls are much closer together."
"Amanda is more the leader because she's quiet and leads by example and she really doesn't allow many things to bother her. And her sister has come a long ways and done very well."
But according to their father, Robert Blackketter, the two have come a long ways since each were introduced to the sport by their grandfather, Dale Blackketter of West Richland.
"Their grandfather is actually the one that has been coaching them, because they never listen to their parents," Robert joked. "He's a certified coach, and grandma (Janet Blackketter) has stepped in every now and then."
Robert calculated that the sisters were both around the age six when they were first introduced to the sport, or at least from "the time they were able to pick up a six-pound ball and throw it."
Dale, who coaches the sisters' weekend United States Bowling Conference league and is acknowledged by Garnica as a key volunteer with the Lions team, praised Amanda and Brittany for their sportsmanship and enthusiasm.
"They have some natural ability and they like the competition," Dale said. "And they enjoy getting better, as does anybody."
For her part, Amanda, 18, believes that the foundation for a good bowler is in the support network of the team.
"I don't think there are any tricks," said Amanda, whose 3,554 pins and 177.7 season average earned her 4A second-team all-league recognition. "A little common sense is all you need to have ... it's not just about one person. If one person is having a bad day, then the whole team is having a bad day."
Brittany, 15, was selected to the 4A all-league first team with a pin count of 3,649 and a season average of 182.45 and agreed with her sister's philosophical slant on the sport and added that, with the right emotional support, one bad game need not lead to another.
"Bowling is a team sport. You can't do it by yourself. You rely on each other. When somebody is doing bad, have somebody bring them up. It's making sure they don't get flustered with themselves, and they can bring it back."
And like Russian nesting dolls, the Blackketter sisters are a team within the team and are right there for each other with observations and suggestions.
"We help each other out a lot," Brittany said. "She'll come to me every once in a while for help, and I'll tell her she dropped her ball at the line, or to keep her shoulder up. She tells me to slow down, relax when I get upset with myself."
But the sisters' show of support isn't just for each other: they do it in memory of their brother, Matthew, who passed away with cancer in 2007 at the age of 9.
"I tell them, instead of doing it for yourself, do it for your brother. Do it for your team," Robert said.
"He'd jump up and down, and whatnot, and run into my arms," Amanda said as she recalled her brothers' joy with the sport and added that Matthew once had a turkey -- three strikes in a row.
"He was a good bowler," Brittany said. "When he had a good game he'd jump up and down and come and tell me and my sister. I think about him all the time when I bowl."
