As the 2025 bowling season progresses, both the boys' and girls' teams have demonstrated hard work, skill, and camaraderie, with both squads facing their fair share of challenges and triumphs.
For many of the bowlers, including senior Jayden Saylor and sophomore Sierra Foy, joining the team was a natural fit. Jayden, who began seriously bowling in his freshman year, wanted to stay active during the winter months and enjoyed the sport from the start. "I just joined Bowling because I needed something to do during the winter, and I had fun bowling previously," he said.
Sierra, who comes from a long line of bowlers, was introduced to the sport at a young age. "My whole family bowls. It was kind of like a tradition passed down," she explained, adding that her family’s passion for the sport was a major influence on her own journey.
The bowling season typically runs from November through February, with both teams seeing significant moments of success. The girls' team, has remained undefeated through the season, with one of their standout victories being against LaBrae, a feat Sierra described as one of the highlights of her bowling career. “Our team has won all of our matches, and for the first time since I’ve been on the team, we beat LaBrae,” she said proudly.
The boys' team, on the other hand, has had a mix of ups and downs. Despite starting the season with a 3-0 record, they’ve faced a few losses. However, Jayden remains hopeful. "We won yesterday, so I’m hoping it starts back up," he said, optimistic about the team’s potential for a strong finish.
While bowling may appear to be an individual sport, both Jayden and Sierra emphasized the importance of teamwork. "It's definitely a big team sport, but there's also an individual aspect to it," Jayden noted. He explained that even if one bowler performs exceptionally well, the team can still lose if the others don’t perform at a similar level. Sierra echoed this sentiment, adding that in a format known as “Baker’s,” one bad frame can affect the entire team. “If one person has a bad frame, then the rest of the team eventually does worse, and your Baker score adds up,” she explained.
The boys' team, which does not always have regular practices, focuses on matches, but the camaraderie remains strong. “We don’t really practice; we just show up and bowl,” Jayden said. In contrast, the girls' team has a more structured practice schedule, often taking advantage of days off from school to improve their game.
Looking ahead, both Jayden and Sierra have personal goals for the remainder of the season. Sierra is focused on improving her individual performance, hoping to raise her average and achieve a personal best. “My goal is to either get my highest game or raise my average,” she said. Jayden, meanwhile, is focused on helping his team succeed and is hopeful his performance will improve as the season continues. “I just want our team to succeed. I do want to get a high game and get my average back up,” he shared.
The future of the GHS bowling program looks promising as both teams have shown significant improvement. With several underclassmen coming up through the ranks and the coaching staff’s continued support, both Jayden and Sierra expressed confidence in the teams’ future. “I have a lot of faith in the team for next year,” Jayden said, looking forward to seeing the younger bowlers develop. Sierra echoed this, noting that the girls' team will benefit from continued growth and experience next season.
Both bowlers encourage other students to join the team, highlighting the sport’s accessibility and longevity. Jayden pointed out that bowling is a sport that people can enjoy throughout their lives. "Bowling is a really universal thing, but you can do it whenever you want," he said, urging more students to give it a try. Sierra agreed, emphasizing that bowling should be given more recognition at the school. "It's not that bad. Actually, it’s one of our better sports at the school," she said.
Whether it's through team spirit or personal growth, the GHS bowling teams have a lot to be proud of, and both Jayden and Sierra are determined to keep the momentum going. “Just join the bowling team,” both bowlers advised, echoing a sentiment that speaks to the inclusive and supportive nature of the sport.