For the past two years the Pioneer bowling team has struggled with a small number of players, so to fix this issue they partnered with neighboring Skyline High School this year and formed the Ann Arbor Bowling Team.

Even though the bowling team is small, the captains agree that everyone has a lot of fun and the team something that students should try. 

Co-captain of the boys team, Skyline senior Quinn McClintock, said that being a part of the bowling team gave him time away from electronic devices and helped him make friends. “I’ve been able to meet some new people,” he said. “It’s [also] kind of a nice way to get away from your phone.” 

Pioneer senior Lai’la Wilborn, co-captain of the girls team, said that bowling is a great sport if one doesn’t like the typical features of other sports. “People should join the team if they want to play a sport but don’t want to be super competitive,” she said. “The other team (you bowl against) is always nice.” 

Skyline junior Marc Ordóňez, the other boys co-captain, said that bowling also has a lower time commitment than super competitive sports do. “I don’t want to say it doesn’t require dedication at all, because you have to be willing to learn a different way to bowl,” he said. “But you know, it’s kind of a chill sport, you’re just hanging around with friends bowling.” 

Coach Rich North, one of the three coaches of the team, says that to be a part of a bowling team, one doesn’t need experience or equipment. “There’s no real skill, you learn as you go,” he said. “As far as equipment, you can use lane balls.” 

North also added that there are two main benefits of joining the bowling team: making friends and playing an indoor sport. “Some of my best friends I’ve all met through bowling,” he said, “(and) you don’t have to be outside in the weather.” 

McClintock said that there is no shame in trying out the bowling team and then leaving if it isn’t a good fit. “You can come to a practice, see how it is,” he said.

Wilborn said that corrections from coaches can teach important lessons on how to perfect things and become better. “You have to know what specifically makes you strike,” she said. “Even if you change it a little bit, it affects if you get a strike or not. So you have to be repetitive.” 

North explains that the bowling team only has practice three times a week, and a match a few times a week. Practices are on Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. and matches are once or twice a week from 3-5:30 or sometimes until 6 p.m. The team practices at Station 300 in Saline.

Coach North wants to make being able to join the team as easy as possible by giving many ways to join the team. “All you have to do is contact the head coach, Coach Roger Ratkowski, and he’ll give you information,” he said. “Come to a practice and hang out and bowl, try it, if you like it you can sign up mid season.” 

For more information about the bowling team, send an email to Coach Roger, at [email protected].