Little Flower rolls to
a super bowling victory

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

For Kaitlin Brady, bowling is a beautiful thing.
The Little Flower High School senior — who will attend a beauty school in Florida next year — led the Sentinels’ bowling squad to the Catholic League championship after a 2,320-1,806 victory over Archbishop Wood High School on Saturday.
Little Flower finished the season with a 52-13 overall record.
"It’s unreal. The girls were outstanding," said coach Jack Rooney, who has guided the Sentinels to six championship appearances, resulting in two title crowns, during his 21 seasons. "We did everything right. We had outstanding bowling by all of the girls. It was amazing."
Juliana Feltwell, a junior whose 188 average ranked her second in the league, led Little Flower with a 624 series. Teammate Liz Stout added 598, while Tyra Flaville had a 578 series. Brady rolled a 520 series.
Little Flower experienced a hint of déjà vu this year, claiming first place during the regular season for the second straight year and having four varsity competitors — Brady, Feltwell, Flaville and Stoudt — earn All-Catholic honors for the second consecutive year as well.
"This is one of the best seasons we’ve ever had," said Rooney. "The girls have been really great."
Brady, who had a 178 average during the season, was the squad’s captain and sole senior this year. She has been a vital part of the team throughout her four years at Little Flower, and has led the squad to the title match for the past two years.
"I try to stay focused and keep everybody up and not get down if someone does bad," said Brady. "I try to keep the team alive and the momentum up. But we all do it for each other. When I have bad games, they’re cheering for me no matter what. We’re known for being a really loud team."
Brady had her bowling debut in fifth grade, while attending St. Matthew’s. In addition to bowling for Little Flower, she currently participates in a Saturday morning junior league.
Looking back, though, Brady never expected to take it this far.
"I got more into it and wanted to keep bowling, but I never thought I’d be bowling in high school," said Brady. "The reason I went to Little Flower is to play soccer."
And that’s what Brady did, briefly. She was injured on the field the summer before her sophomore year.
"I stopped playing for school after that," said Brady, who still plays with the Fox Chase AAU squad. "I was playing in a tournament down the shore and some girl took me out and tore a bunch of stuff in my knee. It’s not fully healed. I still have problems. But it doesn’t hurt when I’m bowling."
Even though the final pins have fallen with her Little Flower squad, Brady plans to keep bowling. The senior has hopes for a bright future — and she’ll definitely need sunglasses.
"I’m moving to Florida in August," said Brady, a Northeast Philadelphia resident. "I’m going to beauty school there."
She’ll be attending the Paul Mitchell Beauty School in Orlando. "I was looking around at different beauty schools in the Florida area and I really liked their program. I’ll be doing mostly haircuts and coloring. I’ve wanted to do that for a while now," she said.
Brady has been attracted to the sunny skies of Florida her entire life. The destination is a favorite spot for her family, who also will be moving down shortly.
"We’ve been going there every year since I was two. We love the area," said Brady. "I’ll miss all my friends and I know it’s going to be so different, but I’m excited. It’s very relaxing there. I love the warm weather. It’s a nice place to chill."
Her father Jim will make the move in August. Her mom Joanne and brother Matt — currently a student at the Orleans Technical Institute on Red Lion Road — will join them a few months later.
"I’m very close with my family, so I’m really excited," said Brady. "I know I’ll miss the girls, though. We’re like a family, and Mr. Rooney and Mr. Feltwell are like family. I’m just going to miss everyone.
"Right now I’m just planning to finish out the school year and have fun with my teammates and friends. We’re already making plans for them to come down and visit," she said with a smile. ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com