Butler bowling’s Greg Wilbert heads to state tournament riding hot streak after regional title
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert cleans off his bowling ball during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert cleans off his bowling ball during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert practices at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert practices at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert prpractices at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert lines up a shot during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert grabs his ball during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert watches his ball strike the pins during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler senior Greg Wilbert lines up a shot during a practice session at Family Bowlaway in Butler on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as he prepares for the state tournament. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
BUTLER TWP — Whether he’s practicing, competing or bowling for leisure, Greg Wilbert takes to the lanes with one thing in mind.
“Getting better,” the Butler High senior said following a practice at Family Bowlaway last week. “That’s what keeps me coming back. I want to bowl in college and am looking at (Community College of Allegheny County) right now, but am waiting to see if bigger schools are interested in me.”
Wilbert’s devotion to the sport has already paid dividends. At the recent Western Regional, held Feb. 28 at Noble Manor Lanes in Pittsburgh, he topped 80 other bowlers to become the first male from Butler High School to win a region crown.
The state tournament begins Friday at the same venue.
“My goal was to make states by placing in the top 12,” Wilbert said. “Winning the tournament was definitely a surprise.”
He placed fourth in the qualifying round, from which the top 12 bowlers moved on to a knockout stage. He then won four consecutive matches, including a 226-221 victory in the final over Thomas Jefferson’s Dylan Roberts.
“Greg’s been tearing it up, has averaged about 240 over the last couple weeks,” Butler coach Jim Hepler said. “He’s always working on his game, making adjustments. He was tremendous at regionals.”
Wilbert’s family is heavily involved in bowling. His older brother, Zach, previously bowled for the Golden Tornado.
“I started bowling when I was 3 and always wanted to compete for the high school team,” Greg said. “When I was a freshman and sophomore, the varsity team was very good. I couldn’t crack the lineup and was on the JV team for two years. But when those older guys graduated, I knew I had to step up and spent a lot of time practicing over that summer.”
Wilbert turned in a strong junior campaign, averaging a 194 and bowled at the regional tournament. He has raised his average this season to 205 through 30 games. His high game is a 279, and he rolled a 767 series earlier in the year.
“I didn’t qualify for states last year, and wanted to improve all around,” he said. “I’ve become a lot more consistent and am happy with the improvement.
“My mental approach to the sport has changed. Now, if I have a bad frame, I just laugh it off because most of the time, I know what I did wrong. I just move on.”
Wilbert says he bowls, on average, about four times every week. He’s preparing for his final high school competition with a positive outlook.
“I’m going in with the mindset of placing high,” he said. “I want to play well enough to give myself a shot at winning the state title.”
Qualifying for the girls state tournament was Freeport’s Kylie McConahy, who averaged 197 during the season.
