AnnArbor.com's third in a series of six winter high school sport previews focuses on Washtenaw County's bowling teams.

CHELSEA BULLDOGS The Bulldog boys, looking to fill the bowling shoes of state finalist Eric Marzak, have plenty of options with seniors such as John Stebelton (200 average), Ryan Doty (195) and David Martin (195). The Chelsea girls will rely on the throwing of senior Megan Dembinski and junior Bria Tschirhart, who bring back 180 and 175 averages, respectively.

Coach: Ed Greenleaf.

Last season: Boys: Won the Southeastern Conference White Division, finishing 12-3 overall, 9-3 in league play. Girls: Finished third in the SEC White.

Key returners: Boys:Ryan Doty (sr.), David Martin (sr.), John Stebelton (sr.). Girls: Megan Dembinski (sr.), Nikki Spencer (sr.).

Key newcomers: Boys: Jesse Stebelton (fr.), Taylor Redman (fr.). Girls: Mary-Beth Steklac (jr.), Chelsea Weiss (jr.), Bria Tschirhart (jr.).

Strength: Numbers and experience. The Bulldogs have 40 kids making up the two teams this season. The program averages 32 a year. Experience wise, Chelsea has represented at the state finals six out of the last seven years.

Weakness: Spare shooting. Coach Greenleaf most likely speaks for most coaches when saying: "All the kids want to throw strikes, but the spares are going to win you championships."

Outlook: Chelsea is primed to defend its league title on the boys side. Meanwhile, the girls plan to maintain their top-3 finish in the conference -- perhaps even vie for the No. 1 spot.

Coach Ed Greenleaf says: "Every year we come in the league expecting to win. It's a very, very tough league full of great coaches and great athletes. The SEC is well represented when it comes to the state tournament."

HURON RIVER RATS The River Rat boys didn't finish as well as they hoped to last season and are prepared to bounce back. With senior tri-captains leading the charge, Huron is off to the right start. (Information not available for girls team.)

Coaches: Boys: Juan Mathews (6th year). Girls: Marti Marshall (1st year).

Last season: Boys: Finished in the middle of the pack of the SEC Red.

Key returners: Boys: Tyler Weiss (sr.), Drew Baxter (sr.), Devon Micou (sr.).

Key newcomers: Boys: Aakash Sapre (sr.), Kyle Weiss (fr.).

Strength: Boys: Chemistry. The River Rat boys have a nucleus that has bowled together for a significant amount of time. Weakness: Boys: Focus on picking up spares, according to coach Mathews.

Outlook: Boys: Huron hopes to climb up the SEC Red ranks, and with a more experienced team than a season ago there's no reason they shouldn't.

Coach Juan Mathews says: "We want to win the conference and maybe get a couple of players in the state tournament."

MILAN BIG REDS Milan competed in the Lenawee/Washtenaw League for the first time last season. The boys made an instant impact, sharing the conference crown with Hudson. Returnees such as Colten Philipi and David McPherson, who bring back 184 and 173 averages, should keep the Big Reds atop the league. On the girls side, Milan hopes to ride the throwing of Toni Barnett (131) and Krista Clark (116) en route to improving upon its 5-3 league mark in 2008.

Coach: Melanie Wilson (4th year).

Last season: Boys: Co-champs of the Lenawee/Washtenaw League with Hudson, ending with a 9-1-2 mark. Finished three pins away from advancing to states. Girls: Ended the season with a 5-3 record in league play.

Key returners: Boys: David McPherson (jr.), Colten Philipi (jr.). Girls: Toni Barnett (sr.), Krista Clark (sr.).

Key newcomers: Boys: Jeremy Harpers (fr.). Girls: Brianna Hurley (so.), Emmalee Herlocher (so.).

Strength: Wilson stresses her teams’ positive attitude, win or lose. Also, participation continues to hover around 35-40 bowlers per team since the program started four years ago.

Weakness: Senior leadership. Each team lost key contributors from a season ago, especially the boys, who graduated Jacob Varney, who finished in the top 15 at state.

Outlook: Boys: Equipped with players inching toward 200 averages, the Big Reds have a good shot of repeating as Lenawee/Washtenaw League champs. Girls: Moving up in the league standings is Milan's foremost goal, which should be obtainable with such a full lineup.

Coach Melanie Wilson says: "I would imagine we would finish in the top one or two [for the boys], even with losing three of our bowlers last year. I would expect the girls to do even better this year than last year."

PIONEER PIONEERS Both Pioneer squad rolls into the 2009 season as co-SEC Red Division champions. However, each team lost five vital bowlers from last year's team. The boys bring back Cody Gooden's 180 average while the girls return Erin Lalinsky's 136 average. The two are the lone representatives from last year's varsity clubs. Meaning, it make take time for each team to find their grooves.

Coaches: Boys: Dennis Arend (7th year). Girls: Becky Arend (7th year).

Last season: Boys: Tied for a share of the SEC Red title with Saline on a 7-5 conference mark. Girls: Also tied for the SEC Red crown with Saline, posting an 8-4 league record.

Key returners: Boys: Cody Gooden (sr.). Girls: Erin Lalinsky (sr.).

Key newcomers: Boys: Henry Pakela (fr.), Mike Harrington (sr.), Phil Miller (sr.), Rusty Juliar (jr.). Girls: Michelle Allen (sr.), Amanda Taphouse (sr.), Katie Leite (fr.).

Strength: Boys: Improvements. Arend praised his squad's willingness to learn and work hard. Girls: Depth. The Pioneer girls don't have the most experienced team, but are high in numbers.

Weakness: Boys/Girls: Inexperience. Both Pioneer teams have few experienced seniors throughout their lineups.

Outlook: Boys: It will be a rebuilding year for the Pioneer boys, but their winning tradition may give them a competitive edge as the season unfolds. Girls: The girls hope to defend their SEC title and have the numbers to do so -- they just need to produce.

Coach Dennis Arend says: "I think we're definitely in the rebuilding process, but we should be in the middle of the pack [of the conference] and surprise some teams."

Coach Becky Arend says: "A lot of girls are only in their second year, but they've improved tremendously. We're excited. I've got a lot of enthusiasm."

SALINE HORNETS The Hornets will be aiming to win their second straight SEC Red title, as the boys and girls shared the league's top spot with Pioneer in 2008. But Saline doesn't want to stop there. Coach John McMullen feels he has players, and perhaps a boys team, capable of making it to the state tournament.

Coach: John McMullen (6th year).

Last season: Boys: Tied for the SEC Red title with Pioneer with a 7-5 conference record.

Girls: Mirroring the boys, finished in a deadlock with Pioneer for the SEC Red title.

Key returners: Boys: Curtis Stevens (sr.), Chas Baker (sr.), Dan Eby (sr.). Girls: Cheyenne Long (sr.), Emily DeCook (so.).

Key newcomers: Boys: Aaron Ohl (sr.). Girls: N/A.

Strength: There is plentiful experience to go around for both groups. Each knows what it takes to work towards a conference championship.

Weakness: Participation isn't as high as McMullen hoped. The boys have eight players on varsity, the girls nine.

Outlook: Perhaps the most experienced teams in the SEC Red, both Hornets squads have their sights set on a consecutive league title. But this time, an outright championship.

Coach John McMullen says: "I think if we stay healthy, the boys can get out of regionals and get into the state finals. Girls, we could if they have a strong year."

SKYLINE EAGLES With a sophomore-heavy lineup, it's no secret that the Skyline girls are one of the youngest teams in the area. After failing to find the win column a season ago, the Eagles will be focusing on getting their first win over anything else. (Information not available for boys team.)

Coaches: Girls: Merritt Schiffler (2nd year). Boys: Kurt Kizer (1st year).

Last season: Girls: Finished the 2008 season winless.

Key returners: Girls: Grace Pritula (so.), Betsy Mansfield (so.), Mari Cammano (so.), Maddy Byle (so.).

Key newcomers: Girls: N/A

Strength: Girls: Experience. Despite being a young crop of bowlers, the Eagles are much more seasoned than they were a year ago.

Weakness: Girls: A lack of upperclassmen leadership. Young teams could always use a junior or senior to guide them.

Outlook: Girls: The Eagles are hoping to surprise some teams this winter and shake their losing-skid dating back to last year.

Coach Merrit Schiffler says: "We're building on what we did last year. I think that they're going to do a good job."