Gracefully gripping the finger holes, a hand tosses a ball, which lands with a heavy thud as it impacts the lane, then spins around toward the ten opposing pins. After the collision, there are no survivors on the side of the pins, leaving only a strike and a loud cheer from the bowler.

What a glorious start to the Bowling club season that almost didn’t happen.

Last Friday, Sept. 21, the Bowling club started up to a pretty good success. Students of all ages were represented on the lanes at the local AMF bowling alley, with what appeared to be some CCE students among them.

The Bowling club had been in danger after last year, when the preceding president graduated without a true successor. Luckily, senior Katie Bailey stepped up.

“I took up leadership for my friends,” said Bailey, who had many acquaintances who participated in the club in past years that didn’t want to see it end.

Due to the quick rush into her presidency, Bailey is in the early stages of planning events for this year. She is also looking for someone who has more time and will be more committed to replace her as club president.

“Bowling club is a place for just hang time on a Friday,” said Bailey.
This idea, of an ideal way to relax after a stressful week of classes and papers, is shared among the bowlers. Brett McDonough joined the Bowling club last year as an alternate and is now playing full time.

“It is something fun on a Friday night and it is cheap,” said McDonough, whose best game to date is about 100.

But bowling is something people can enjoy whether they roll a perfect game of 300 or fall a bit short at 100.

“It is a lot of fun at the end of the week,” said junior Christian Tardieu, who bowled around 150 for his best round and joined because it gave him “something to do off campus.”

McDonough’s most fun memory, while participating in the Bowling club, was last year. He remembers a lot of people coming and half of the lanes at the alley being taken by Guilford students. Tardieu most enjoyed bowling last year on his birthday. Spandex bowling, when people showed up and bowled in spandex, was a popular theme and a fun night in past years, according to Bailey.

If you are interested in bowling, whether you have a team or not, e-mail Katie Bailey or come to the AMF bowling alley at 910 S. Holden Rd. at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. It costs four dollars for three games, if you mention you are with the club. You can come with a team of four or come alone, because there are always people looking for teammates.