Has anyone else noticed the hype around bowling recently? I feel like there has been a uprising in the popularity of bowling and it sure caught my attention. I think the recent adoration surrounding this hobby/ sport could be a variety of factors. It could be the time of year–it’s spring and, as the fall and winter sports are finished, now is the time to pick up something new. It could also be a way to bond. As the school year is coming to an end, bowling is a great way to spend time with friends. Regardless of these or any other reasons, as I interviewed some of the most dedicated bowlers here at Timpview High, I found out why they have such a passion for it.
Calvin Lillywhite and Todd Swenson shared their love for the game as they shared personal stories, goals and scores. Swenson shared his personal best score in 193, and said this was his most memorable game because he bowled a hambone. (Google Definition of Hambone: rolling four consecutive strikes in a single game) WOW! Lillywhite expressed his belief that “one day if I keep working hard, I’ll be able to break 200.” According to Google, a score of 130-180 is considered a “Serious/League Bowler.” While bowling a score of 180-220+ puts you in the range of an “Advanced League Bowler,” reaching this level of execution takes lots of work and time at the lanes. When asked how many times per week they bowled, they told me it was an average of one and a half times per week. This is when their group of friends/ club, which is registered with the school, gets together to have fun while knocking down pins.
Lillywhite said his passions started once he had gone bowling once or twice, and he realized they could get better, beginning the journey of pursuing bowling. They said that this journey caused them to become competitive in bowling. Swenson also said that his intentional pursuit of bowling began after the “rush” of his first turkey. (Google Definition of Turkey: the term for achieving three consecutive strikes in a row, which usually results in a minimum of 60 points over three frames) In their chase of bowling, they have come up with alter egos, Lillywhite’s being “Spiff,” and Swenson’s being “BB.”
One of their best bowling days was when Timpview Basketball Star and BYU committed Dean Rueckert and his filming crew came to capture their game. Daily visuals posted this edit on Instagram, which featured the gang having a good time while bowling. Swenson said he bowled “terribly and had to get in the river.” But I think that could have been the magic which made the day so fun. To get inside their head’s a bit, I asked them what sets apart bowling from other hobbies, and what keeps them coming back to the lanes. They responded with their love in chasing a strike and the rush it brings. They said being with each other is what separates it from other past times. I then asked what they would miss the most if bowling disappeared tomorrow, and their response kind of surprised me. Swenson commented, “the atmosphere. Like once you’re there, nothing else matters. For at least an hour, you got nothing else on your mind, but like who’s about to lose? How do I get better? Who’s about to do this punishment?” Then Lillywhite jumped in and called bowling “a little bit of escapism.”
After interviewing these dedicated-to-the-craft bowlers, I discovered a deeper respect for bowling. The time it takes, their “why” and the pure and wholesome nature of bowling has me wondering why I don’t spend more time at the lanes. So next time you’re bored with your friends, consider how your day might be better because you chose to go bowling.
