Bowling has been around for a very long time, with its earliest forms dating back all the way to around 5000 BC. So why is it that it is one of the least talked about sports, especially in high school? 

According to the book, “Bowling Alone” written by Robert Putnam, the main reason bowling’s popularity has died down is due to the “declining social capital” caused by the “social interaction and even occasionally civic conversations over beer and pizza that solo bowlers forgo.” 

This has played a big role in why the amount of bowling alleys decreased from over 9 million in the late 1970s to just 1.3 million in 2018, as reported by Bloomberg’s Justin Fox. 

Decreasing numbers such as these also make it hard for the few people who are interested in bowling to even find a place to bowl. Not having enough space significantly decreases possible exposure, hindering its popularity even more. This issue was very prominent for the Wilsonville High School Bowling Team. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, the local bowling alley in Wilsonville, Wilsonville Lanes, was forced to shut down due to a lack of revenue. Thus, the high school bowling team that had been using this location was forced to disband. 

According to varsity bowler Rebekah Wolcott, “There was a lot of hassling as far as trying to figure out what the next steps were because no one really knew about the team.” After reaching out to many people, a plan to practice at Tigard Bowl was established. 

 Despite finally finding a place to meet, there were still other challenges the team faced. Compared to other high school sports such as football or basketball, bowling rarely gets any coverage or promotion, once again due to its declining popularity. 

However, students who were a part of the team refused to give up, and “With the help of our athletic director, Mr. Burke, we were able to send out an email to the students to try and rally up a boys and girls team,” Wolcott said. 

Such determination was fueled by the passion the players had not only for the sport itself but for the team that they built. While some people may think of bowling as just another hobby, it is so much more than that to those that participate in it.