Bowling Team Needs More Recognition

By: Hannah-Grace Hagood

Is it just me, or does the bowling team not get enough credit? The Wilson Hall Girl’s Bowling Team won the state championship in 2023 and people continue to think bowling is not a sport but chess is. Like what? Not only does bowling require actual physical work, but it helps with your hand-to-eye coordination by throwing the bowling ball on your mark because if you do not look at your mark, you will miss it. Sure chess requires mental work, but it certainly is not a sport. According to Oxford Languages, the definition of a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment,” emphasis  on the “physical.” We win championships and hardly even get recognized. We buy multiple bowling balls, take care of our bowling balls, practice (sometimes all summer), have tournaments, and what do we get? A single announcement on the morning announcements, if we’re lucky. Not to mention the fact that most people only join the bowling team to get a PE credit or have some sort of athletics on their college application like bowling is just an easy credit. People say bowling takes no skill or effort, you’re just rolling a ball down a lane, how hard could it be; and to that I say “Ok, go bowl a 300 game if it’s so easy,”  “Stop trash talking bowling and go bowl a perfect game if it takes no brain power.” What I find hilarious is when people say bowling is easy and then they actually try it and throw it in the gutter half of the time. In my opinion, and most of the other team member’s opinions, bowling should get more recognition, and should be treated like the actual sport it is.

My Favorite Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

This week I’ll be talking about Wilson Hall bowling. This has to be one of my favorite things about my school. It is such a unique experience to be a part of. I started doing this activity junior year and it soon became one of my top hobbies. 

Every week is different, but most of the time we have one practice and two matches a week. Some weeks we get to leave school a little early when we have a match in Columbia. There is a girls, boys, and coed team. The coach decides the team based on how you perform the week prior and at practices. 

It is like getting to bowl for fun and still doing a winter sport. We get to work on techniques like aiming, spinning, and timing. We also learn about strategy, like picking the right ball and adjusting to lane conditions. Matches are so exciting with everyone cheering each other on. It’s a good mixture of individual and team work. The coach sets time apart for each player so he can make sure we are improving the most we can. 

When I first joined the team I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I soon realized just because it was different from the usual activities I chose that I still needed to give it a chance. After the first two weeks I knew I loved it. Everyone there is so accepting and supportive. When someone exceeds it truly is exciting. 

Bowling has made me a better person. It has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. Although this is only my second year doing it. I can’t wait to reach new goals this season.  When I go to college, I’ll be sure to find something that brings me joy like this activity does.