I was fortunate enough to live in a state where bowling is a recognized Varsity sport (New York). I bowled all 6 years I was in Junior and Senior High School and my team won the Boys' State Championship in 1992. To me, high school bowling is like a college bowling atmosphere in that it's enthusiastic and a great learning experience if you want to continue competing at a very high level. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for school bowling, I wouldn't have some of the friends I have now.
For those of you who don't have it, keep working at it. Bowling, in the youth levels, is showing a resurrection of sorts, and may arrive near the level of popularity it once held with adults back in the "heydays" of the 50's through 70's. I've said it many times before, both as a youth bowler, as an adult bowler, and now as a coach - kids are the future of any sport and we need to give them any and every opportunity to succeed and enjoy the sport that we possibly can. Without youth participation, this sport will continue to decline where only diehards remain.
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"There are no magical balls, just magical bowlers"