Though students often believe sports are characterized by teamwork, some athletics focus more on individual performance. When freshman Nick Avery tried and failed to find a team sport he enjoyed, he discovered a love for bowling.

Nick signed up for lessons several years ago when he attended a friend’s bowling birthday party. After discovering a knack for the sport, he joined the Premier’s Traveling League, which he has been involved with since.

His mother, DeAnna Avery, said she is excited about his part on the team and his dedication.

“We enjoy seeing him get better over time,” DeAnna said. “Bowling is a sport like any other sport: You have to learn the skill, but you have to learn how to discipline your mind to focus in order to stay positive when your game isn’t going the way you want.”

Part of the sport’s appeal lies in Nick’s own improvement throughout the years. Since he began, his average score has steadily climbed. His average score is now around 200.

“The thing I like most is constantly improving every time I go,” Nick said. “And every time you go you learn something new, whether it be through fault or doing very well.”

Though not many students are aware of Nick’s passion for bowling, Austen Houts, ’12, said she holds respect for Nick’s diligence.

“He doesn’t seem like the bowling team type,” Houts said. “Kudos to him for putting his heart into a sport that he enjoys. I didn’t even know that Nick had ever been bowling!”

Though Nick is dedicated to his league, he is unable to practice very often because of schoolwork and extracurricular activities. However, Nick still enjoys the challenges of practicing and believes his involvement in bowling helps him focus in other areas.

“I would tell people to join because it’s a fun, laid-back sport,” Nick said. “But it’s also very challenging and complex because it takes a lot of experience to get really good and a lot of focus or concentration. I think that it’s just overall much more fun of a sport to play.”

Nick’s league works similar to a tournament for any other sport, with a team member’s combined scores against four other players progressing them forward or backward in rank. Prize scholarship money is the motivation for many members.

“We don’t necessarily compete against other leagues unless we go into a tournament,” Nick said, “becuase we’re not that type of league. How high your scores are determines how much of a college scholarship you get from that league.”

When searching for a sport catered to Nick’s preferences, his parents discovered that an individual sport seemed perfect for their son. His mother wanted Nick to excel in a sport without feeling the pressure of a team.

“Nick tried all the team sports but never seemed real excited about them,” DeAnna said. “[While] bowling can be a team effort, it has allowed him to learn and grow at his own pace without the pressure of letting a team down if he doesn’t do as well for a period of time. The added bonus is that he wins scholarship money for college!”

For more bowling profiles, visit the May 18, 2007, article, Strikes earn senior cash.