Student Spotlight: Devan Barkley on North’s Bowling Team

By Madison O’Leary
 
How many of us have been bowling before? The answer is pretty much the entire population. However, not as many people are aware that bowling is a competitive sport with teams and competitions. Personally, I did not know a lot about the team aspect, so I decided to ask my friend, Devan Barkley, about Council Rock North’s own bowling team.
 
Q: What made you decide to join the bowling team?
Barkley: Allie [Daries’s] older sister was on the North bowling team, and she heard that we could get college scholarships, so we both joined.
 
Q: How long have you been a part of the team?
Barkley: I have been on the team since my freshman year, so three years now.
 
Q: What is the team dynamic like?
Barkley: There are not many of us on the girls’ team, so we’re a pretty tight-knit group. We’re all good friends, and we give each other rides. Sometimes, we even go bowling on the weekends together.
 
Q: What is your favorite part about competing?
Barkley: My favorite part of competing is doing so with my friends. Although the sport is generally pretty individual, the team aspect makes it a lot more fun, especially when we set goals for ourselves and the team. One thing we do is if everyone gets a strike (knocking down all the bowling pins in one shot) or a spare (knocking all the pins down in two shots) in one frame, our coach will buy us a pizza!
 
Q: What do you think the best reason is for joining the bowling team?
Barkley: A good reason to join the team is that it’s something fun you can do with your friends, and you can even make new friends. You don’t have to have any skill to join the team [unlike many other sports], so it’s an easy way to relax after a tough school day (juniors, you know).
 
Q: Do you plan on continuing after high school?
Barkley: If I hone my skills enough in high school, I hope to try for a college scholarship in bowling. And even if I don’t get one, I’ll still bowl with my friends and family and maybe join a bowling league in my free time.
 
Q: What has being a part of this team taught you?
Barkley: Being on the team has taught me skills in a sport that I can play both in competition and recreationally. It also taught me optimism because even if you don’t have a great game or even a great frame (round), you can always do better in the next one.
 
The bowling team sounds like a tight-knit, low-stress community in our school. I’m sure many of us could use more of that. The team is at the tail-end of their season, which was marked by their SOL championship on February 12th. So, let’s continue to support North’s bowling team and continue to congratulate them for their achievements.

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