Bowling is making a comeback in this country. Bowling centers (formally known as bowling alleys) are enticing people back to a game that’s been prevalent in this country since the late 1800s.
The Lake Orion School District has joined the bowling bandwagon. School board members on Oct. 26 agreed to include bowling as a varsity/junior varsity sport at Lake Orion High School.
Bowling is actually not new to Lake Orion. Teens have been bowling for five years in the GAP program (guided activities program).
‘There’s a resurgence in bowling,? LO Athletic Director Bill Reiss told school board members. ‘It’s growing fast in Orion and around the state. This is another genre of athletes we haven’t tapped yet.
He estimated there’s 240 teams around the state.
High school bowling programs started over 60 years ago in Chicago.
According to Reiss, the bowling program can be fully operational for $5,000.
‘We can operate this on our current budget,? he said. Students will have to pay $150 to play.?
One asset that has helped bowling flourish in this area is Collier’s Lanes in Oxford has allowed the GAP teams to practice twice a week without charge.
‘Bring bowling on,? Ben Gerdaman, GAP coordinator said. ‘It’s a benefit to the students. We’re ready to take it to a higher level. The students are fired up about it.?
He indicated bowling will still continue to be offered in the GAP program, even during the varsity season (winter).
Reiss said he didn’t consider setting up bowling like the hockey program at the high school. That sport is funded by the parents.
‘We can sustain bowling. It’s not like hockey which is much more expensive,? he added.
Lacrosse is another sport that Reiss might like to see begin in Lake Orion. He said Clarkston is thinking about doing it.
He told the school board he’s going to host a lacrosse clinic with lacrosse coaches in attendance.
This will help him gage how much interest there is in this sport. Both high school and middle school students (both boys and girls) will be able to attend. Reiss thinks the sport will be more popular at the middle school level.
‘We’ll try to do it before the snow comes in. If not we’ll do it in the spring, he added.