After a convincing victory at sectionals and being moved up to the Academic All-State team, senior Alyssa Torres bowled at Indiana’s All-State Scholarship Tournament in Kokomo on March 8th, taking home fifth place for Munster.

Torres started bowling in her freshman year. Despite having no prior bowling experience, previously being a swimmer, she took up bowling lessons soon after switching sports. She has been bowling with the school ever since.

“I am motivated to keep bowling because it is a fun sport. I love the tournaments and the competitive atmosphere, and I have made lifelong friends through it over the years,” Torres said. “Once my technique began improving, my scores became more consistent, which also motivated me to keep practicing.”

Despite not playing at the All-State Tournament, freshman Autumn Strode bowled alongside Torres at sectionals, earned a spot on the All-State team and was awarded the Munster High School MVP Award.

A big part of bowling is staying focused on the ball. With how much precision is required to line up shots, the slightest amount of deviance can send the ball rolling down the gutter. Strode keeps herself grounded with a steady mindset that keeps her locked in on each frame.

“Distracting thoughts have a big impact on bowlers, and the only way to be able to cope with them is to block them out. I’m only able to control how I’m bowling, and I can’t do anything about how others are bowling,” Strode said. “You need to focus on your game, what you’re doing and what you’re able to do on the next shot. It’s all about making the next shot better than the last.”