Bowling is an activity that freshman Gavyn Schultz enjoys. But it isn’t just a hobby. It’s a legitimate sport with different leagues and sponsorships. As a matter of fact, Schultz is also a part of a bowling team.
The AHS bowling team is not technically a sport but a club. The bowling club is run by Traci Gossett, better known by students as the Dean at Compass and the director of Anderson Online Academy. She has been coaching the team for two years but the team has been around for at least a decade.
“My daughter who bowls for the team found out about the club during a bowling league when she was approached by one of the players and asked if she wanted to join the club,” Gossett said while recounting when she first found out about the club. “I started coaching when the previous coach left due to his daughter graduating and there was no one to coach the team. Since I have had previous coaching experience and I wanted the team to be able to bowl. I stepped up as coach of the bowling team.”
Schultz is a freshman who bowls for the team. He has bowled for a high school in Portage, IN in the past and has been bowling with his family since he was young. “Around when I was real young, maybe around seven, I think my family introduced me to bowling at Emmons Lange, in Portraits, Indiana. And ever since then, I have been bowling leagues, tournaments, estate, and ever since I moved down here I’ve been a part of the bowling team,” Schultz said.
He also comments on his mindset when he bowls. “I just, I try doing my best. I try to have fun, and I try to support my team.” But he isn’t the only bowler on the team.
The bowling team also has Aduan Santiago (11), Braylen Seybert (11), Damian Woessner (11), Rebekah Gossett (12), and Jamiah Houston (12).
Seybert and Santiago both mentioned they found the club through flyers and word of mouth. They also bowled for a similar amount of time. Seybert has bowled for two and a half years while Santiago bowled for two years. They both plan on continuing to bowl for the club but they don’t really want a career out of it. They see it as a fun hobby and that’s all they want it to be.
The bowling team went against the Frankton Eagles on Nov. 16 at Championship lanes. AHS lost by 40 points during Bakers which is a type of competitive bowling and point system.
The Bowling team shows an opportunity to grow since every Wednesday they meet at championship lanes and discuss what their strengths and weaknesses were. They also meet up to practice for upcoming tournaments and to try new things. The big thing about these practices is that they are having fun. Based on each conversation with these bowlers through interview or privately, they show to have fun and truly not let the sport affect their moods. Win or loss, they still can smile through it regardless of what happens.
