Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Logan Ruwe

Logan Ruwe made a significant change after tryouts for the bowling team during his sophomore year. Growing up, Logan used a traditional one-handed method when bowling but made the leap of faith to the more modern two-handed style. As someone detail-oriented and a problem solver, he weighed the pros and cons of making such a dramatic shift, and his leap of faith has been rewarded over the past three seasons. Not only has Logan changed his bowling style, but he has also become a mentor to his younger teammates who are currently making the same switch, and his leadership and play have earned him the distinction of the Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Logan bowled with his family once or twice a week while growing up, and he decided to try out for the high school team in his sophomore year. That decision has helped shape him into the bowler and person he is today, with his mom Lori Ruwe saying, “The bowling coaches have been very supportive and encouraging of all the boys on the team and motivate the players to cheer loudly and show a lot of team spirit during practices and meets.” She goes on to say, “When Logan first joined the bowling team, he was reticent and reserved. Now I see Logan shouting the team cheers, smiling and encouraging his teammates, and providing support when a teammate is not playing up to their potential.”

The team camaraderie is something Logan enjoys most about bowling, saying, “My teammates are always very helpful, and we encourage one another. We know what each other's shots are supposed to look like, so it is easy to give each other pointers.”

Head coach Reese Henning understands just how important a role Logan plays in that team camaraderie, saying, “Logan is someone I look to on the team if I have questions on how to help other bowlers. He is someone I can rely on to help coach the underclassmen when I am short-staffed.”

Coaches in every sport will tell you how imperative leadership and the value of upperclassmen providing support, encouragement, and instruction to younger players are to the success of the team and program overall. “Logan helps our underclassmen by showing them how he made the change to the two-handed style after sophomore year and how the changes he has made have improved his game," says Reese.

That improvement includes averaging 190 pins per game this season, an increase of 20 pins over his finish from last season. His 3-game series high this year is a 693, and his high single game is a 269. The team was able to come in 3rd place in conference play this past weekend and will head to regionals this weekend for a shot at sectional and state.

With May around the corner, Logan is making preparations for his life after bowling and high school. He plans on attending either Iowa State University or the University of Cincinnati and majoring in design. “I have always been interested in designing things and creating my own work, something that is a piece of art that I can connect with,” says Logan. Lori believes Logan has always had the drive, work ethic, and skills to succeed in the field, saying, “Logan has always had an analytical and creative mind. He likes to problem-solve and can easily pivot and be flexible when plans don’t work out.”

Logan’s Graphic Design and Digital Arts teacher, Lisa Cook, has seen Logan grow in his artistic vision and believes his skills will make him a success in the design field. “Logan is incredibly hard-working and driven,” says Lisa. She goes on to say, “Logan takes the initiative to take his projects to the next level and can execute his work with precision. He is very skilled and detail-oriented. He internalizes projects and challenges and jumps right in with his ideas. You can tell he is the kind of person who has high expectations for themselves, and he knows what it takes to meet those expectations time and time again.”

Coach Henning is hopeful that his team, and Logan, can make a run in the playoffs beginning this weekend at the regional tournament. “Logan could go very far as an individual in the state tournament if he hits his stride in the right game at regionals. This team is defying every expectation I had for them and could go to the state tournament as a team if things fall in our favor.”

As a second-semester senior and someone with experience helping out younger athletes, Logan advises future Wolves by saying, “Try and begin planning out what you want to do after high school so you can set your classes to follow a path that leads in that direction.” Logan and his teammates are hopeful their path will lead them to an opportunity at the state tournament in three weeks and are doing everything they can to put themselves in a position to reach their goals.