Kevin KilleenKilleen.Kevin@wgheco.org
While most athletes might spend Friday afternoons lifting weights, juggling soccer balls or attending team practices, juniors Sam Short, Eric Grumke, Isaac Herzog, Nick Gilbert and Adam Obermeyer spend theirs at the bowling alley.
“Bowling is a great way to relieve stress,” said Gilbert. “I love the game.”
The group got into bowling together as sophomores and have been bowling together ever since. A typical night of bowling for the group at Crestwood Lanes may consist of three pizzas, a couple rounds of Wild Cherry Pepsi and three games of pins.
But despite the group’s frequent attendance to the bowling alley, its members still consider themselves amateurs.
“There are people who take bowling way more seriously, but we’re just in it for the fun,” said Grumke. However, the group has had one offer to play in a competitive high school league, but stands undecided on whether to join.
The group said it usually averages around 180 points a game, and the only person to ever bowl a turkey was Obermeyer.
“Bowling a turkey was pretty awesome,” said Obermeyer.
To “bowl a turkey” is a bowling term, which means the bowler has stricken all 10 pins, three turns in a row.
About whether his bowling interferes with his academics, Gilbert said,
“It’s always been tough to juggle the two. It’s led to some domestic disputes between me and my parents, but I’ve been able to find a happy medium between the two and write a few papers on bowling.”
As team technician, Herzog said he has been able to practice a good mix of computer sciences, calligraphy and basic math skills as he keeps score for the team.
“I basically do everything that happens behind the scenes,” said Herzog.
“We’ve faced some tough times on the lanes, but he’s always been there to rack us back up,” said Short about Herzog.
Short claims to have learned many lessons at the alley,
“Bowling has taught me two primary things: how to rebound after life rolls you a gutter ball and upper-body strength.”
