Is bowling really a sport? Dictionary.com defines sport as “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature,” so let’s take a look at McKinley’s Boys Bowling Team. All bowlers have skills and are very competitive. Bowling is a very competitive sport. With over 120 boys trying to make it into the top 30 spots, there is no room for low averages. Bowlers’ averages range from 150 to 225 in the top 30. It is every bower’s dream to make it to the State Championships. However, they must first qualify in the OIA Divisional Championships (East vs. West). Only the top 30 bowlers make it to the OIA Championships and the top two schools with the highest pin falls (per division) are allowed to take their teams to the OIA. In the OIA, the top 30 bowlers (which includes 15 slots for team bowlers and 15 slots for individual bowlers) from the Eastern and Western Divisions with the highest pin falls get to go to States. States this year is held on Kauai on November 1 and 2. Every team member plays a big part in this sport. McKinley’s Coach JoAnn Hee’s approach is to bowl every boy on the team. This year there are 11 boys on McKinley’s roster. Since only eight are allowed on the score sheet during a game, no bowler knows who will play each week. Therefore, all the boys need to attend practices and have a uniform, a completed grade check with a 2.0 or higher and no F’s and their bowling equipment. Every bowler puts a lot of effort into this sport. They practice 2-3 times a week. Although bowlers have to pay for everything out of their own pockets, it doesn’t discourage them. Bowling lane fees for practice range from $6.75 – $7.50 per practice and bowlers have to pay for their own uniforms, balls, shoes, bags and first aid supplies. This can range from $350 up. Senior Landon Akau said one of the reasons he bowls is because it is fun and he gets to socialize with other classmates. Senior Bryce Takaki-Magdadaro said he is proud that no one can beat him on a one vs. one match. Newcomers Justice Yokoyama, Filamer Doronio, Jullian Pascua, Kevin Trang-Tran, Jonathan Kanno and Bryce Takenaka gave various reasons they joined the bowling team. The main things were that it was fun, they were good at it, and that it was something to do.