When I tell people that I bowl, I usually get one of three reactions. The most common reaction is, “Bowling isn’t even a sport, all you do is throw a ball and try to hit some pins.” Other people will say, “I bowl on the weekends with my friends, what’s your highest score?” The least common reaction is an actual supportive one and it might go something like, “Wow, I give bowlers so much credit – bowling is actually really hard!” No matter what I hear from other people, I will never quit bowling just because it’s seen as “easy” or “just a game." Bowling has become my life over the past nine years, and I will continue to push myself to get better every day.

My freshman year of high school, I was convinced into trying out for the bowling team. I had been bowling for three years already on a middle school league, throwing a house ball, wearing house shoes, and averaging a score of 120. After tryouts, I was placed on my high school’s first ever girl’s junior varsity team. I got my own equipment, started attending practices about three times a week, and eventually bowled in my first tournament. During that tournament, I decided that bowling was officially “my sport”. Now, in my second year of college, I am bowling on Saginaw Valley’s club bowling team. I wouldn’t trade my years of dedication to the sport for anything.

I have my fair share of off days, low games, and missed spares. I feel like giving up and quitting sometimes, but I never will. People always ask me, “Why do you bowl if you think it’s so hard?” Lately, I’ve been thinking about this question a lot. I didn’t do nearly as well as I wanted to at tryouts this year, but I’m not quitting. Being placed at the “bottom of the pack” has just motivated me to work harder and improve my game.

So, why do I bowl?

I bowl because the sport challenges me. Every time I’m at a bowling alley, there’s a new challenge for me – whether it’s my timing being off, difficult lane conditions, or being sore from a previous day of bowling. All of these challenges help me to not only become a better bowler, but to become a better worker. Through bowling, I have learned that it is important to persevere at even the hardest times and have a positive mindset no matter what is happening.

I bowl because of the people I’ve met through the sport. Over the years, I have met so many amazing people through my school teams and the tournaments I’ve attended. My teammates have become my absolute best friends, I don’t know what I’d do without them. They’ve given me support and so many amazing memories. The people I’ve met at tournaments have made a lasting impression on me and I will never forget any of them – like the girl from another school who literally cried tears of happiness with me when I won my JV Singles State Champion title my junior year of high school.

I bowl because it makes me happy. Honestly, there is no better feeling than having a ball roll perfectly off your hand, hit your mark exactly how you want it to, and smash into the pocket, resulting in a perfect strike. The satisfaction of throwing a good shot or covering a difficult spare cannot be compared to anything else. It’s an overwhelming sense of pride and self-confidence that everyone deserves to experience.

In addition to thinking about why I bowl, I decided to ask some of my teammates why they bowl. I got some great responses and it made me think about how bowling is a sport for literally anyone. No matter who you are, you can get something positive out of the sport. I’m glad that so many people enjoy bowling as much as I do.

Brad Schneider – “I bowl because of the friends and great people I've met through the sport. Also, I like how it is a balance between physical ability, like technique, and having mental fortitude to always stay strong no matter how good or bad you're bowling.”

Chad Stephen - “I've been bowling ever since I was little. I enjoy the competition and I like the mental aspect of the game.”

Farrand Schneider – “I bowl because it started as a family thing. Every Saturday morning, my dad woke us up and took my brothers and me to league. He coached me while I was growing up and it was, and continues to be, a way for him and I to connect.”

Karri Campbell – “I bowl because of my love for the game and the people I've met. I wouldn't trade my days of bowling for anything.”

Keri Molloy - “I started bowling by accident really. I was in a youth league but my true passion at the time was basketball. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school when one of my friends made me try out of the high school team. I fell in love with it right then and there. Now I'm here!”

Nick Melton – “My dad taught me to bowl when I was young and honestly I just love the sport. It's also a family thing. My brother and dad bowl, so it makes us all very competitive everyday with each other. We’re constantly seeing who can be the best. Plus, I like all the cool people I've met through it.”

Overall, I’ve decided that I – and many of my teammates – bowl simply because it’s fun. We may not always be happy with the results of our shots, but at the end of the day, we meet some pretty cool people, have fun with our families, and gain a sense of self-confidence through the sport of bowling.