Many sports at LHS get a lot of attention from student and community fans.

But some athletes don’t let a lack of attention keep them from joining the team. This is true of the students who spend their afternoons in a dark bowling alley listening to tumbling pins.

“(I enjoy) getting to come out here to watch everyone in grades below me improve so much,” senior Delaney Dieker said.

Bowling has been a varsity sport since 2004 when bowling centers throughout the state rallied behind the sport being in high schools. Since the very first day, bowling has attracted many people, despite the lack of attention. Often, these teammates have little in common, other than their love of bowling. And really, they don’t need much more.

“The reason I bowl is the camaraderie and anyone can do it,” coach Paula Bastemeyer said.

While some bowl for fun, others take it more seriously.

“It’s a family tradition,” Central freshman Kierstan Warren said. “It’s fun to do a sport that I love to death, it’s everything to me.”

Regardless of why players joined the team, they said being on the bowling team is anything but boring.

“You get to get out of school to go bowl — what’s better than that?” junior Pace Leggins said.

Dieker agrees: “I get to come out here everyday and bowl with my friends.”

Although being on the bowling team may seem not so serious during practice, things heat up during competition.

“Practice is fun, but meets are serious,” Leggins said.

Bowlers said there’s no downside to being on the team.

“It’s not that challenging,” Leggins said. “It’s easy and fun to do.”

Warren said teammates are a big part of the draw.

“You get to experience something great with new people every time,” Warren said.