Bowling for Varsity Status

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Created on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 20:45
Written by Kevin Lessard

varsity bowling ST. JOHNSBURY - What do football, track and field, and bowling have in common?  Well, they definitely have their differences, but they may all soon be varsity sports in the state of Vermont.

Bowling just finished it’s first season as a demonstration sport in the state of Vermont.  All sports go through a two-year period as an exhibition activity, something they must do before the Vermont Principals Association can decide their status.

L.I. has a bowling club, who’s hoping that it will turn into a varsity sport.  Team members seem to agree that turning the club into a varsity sport would be a great idea.

“I think it would be a great victory for them,” said Coach Betsy Ham.  “They’re all really encouraging to each other, so there was a camaraderie there.  They just all really enjoy it and have a great time.”

It all started two years ago, where Hartford High School's Bowling club advisor spearheaded an effort to get bowling to varsity status.  Since then, 12 teams have formed bowling teams in the state of Vermont, and began competing in matches acorss the state.  While Lyndon Institute is the sole Northeast Kingdom team who participated in the demonstration sport this year, larger Vermont schools such as South Burlington and Brattleboro put together teams to compete against L.I.

While the sports community have longed questioned whether bowling shoud be considered a sport at all, bowling team member and Lyndon Institute Offensive Lineman Nick Aiken has no doubt that it is.

“It isn’t really physical, although it involves a lot of different skills that other sports aren't really critical about.”

Ham agrees with Aiken, adding that there some physical aspects that are important to succeeding in bowling.

“Strength and versatility and strategy and there’s just so many things that are involved in it, so I would definitely consider it a sport.”

Ham has been involved with the team for several years now, and has had high praise for her team.  While away at a past bowling meet, Ham says other teams took notice to them.

“At one of our first meets, we didn't do too great… but they kept a positive attitude and they were smiling the whole time and three different people came up to us afterwards and said ‘can you teach our kids to be happy like your kids?’”

The Vermont Principals Association will review bowling’s status as a varsity sport following its second season.