What started as a purely coincidental teacher-student bowling meetup, evolved to the formation of ELHS’s first ever
bowling team. Recently, the team competed in the state sponsored CIAC bowling state championships, varsity
placed 11th. Their success is evident, and thanks to a mutual passion for the sport of bowling. The team came about
in a comical, purely coincidental manner.
“One night, I was bowling, I looked over and saw Mr.McIvor with some other teachers from our school bowling next to me,” senior David Frazer said.
Frazer had the idea to start up a team for a while. On the weekends no matter the season Frazer and friends would go bowling whenever they could. Soon more people started coming to the bowling meetups, and Frazer got the idea to start an official bowling club at ELHS.
“It became pretty obvious no matter your favorite sport, or the time of the year – bowling had something to offer for everyone,” Frazer said. The day after the coincidental meetup, Frazer talked to Mr. McIvor, who revealed his bowling passion and agreed to be an advisor for a bowling club. He later brought the proposed club to Mr. Marcoux, who initiated the process for bowling to evolve into an East Lyme sport.
“I reached out to Mr. Marcoux and he suggested that we enter a team in the state tournament that was held last month, and we were able to raise the money. Ms. Redding got us shirts printed up and we were able to enter the state tournament in Newington,” Mr. McIvor said.
At the state competition, five players competed in the varsity tournament, five in the junior varsity tournament. Overall, the team has had a very successful competition season. The sport itself being brought into ELHS signifies a new bowling culture.
“It’s another opportunity for [ELHS] to give kids a chance to do something that’s a non traditional, non typical sport,” athletic director Mr. Marcoux said.
The bowling team is looking to build a new culture in non conventional sports, opening doors for kids who don’t find a place in traditional sports but appreciate the team aspect. The bowling team’s future plans consist of hopes for expansion as the years progress. The team is currently figuring out the logistics of expanding, and soon enough will have a solid plan. Even so, the team is the first of hopefully many non conventional sports to be introduced to ELHS, creating a culture of sports available for everyone.
