In addition to Edina’s club teams like trap & skeet and rugby is a new bowling team!
What makes these sports “club sports”? “[They have] independent providers, meaning they are outside teams that run everything independently from the district,” said Jenny Johnson. “They make a contract with the district so they can letter, but they hire their own coach, they have their own liability insurance, and they do as their own background checks, but they get to compete as an Edina team and wear the green and white,” she explained.
This isn’t the first time Edina has had a high school league bowling team. From 2007 to 2010, EHS has had one.
“Many of the participants were seniors, and it was coordinated by the parents,” said Mary Plese, a parent of an Edina student pushing for next year’s team.
“I am a huge believer in the bowling team,” she continued. “There are so many good things about it. It’s a lifelong sport, and there are a lot of kids that aren’t involved in something that could benefit from it. Students do better when they’re involved in something.”
So what’s next on the agenda to get this club running? Well, there isn’t exactly a coach-yet. “A lot of coaches end up volunteering their time,” said Plese. This makes it a little more difficult to find one.
High school bowling isn’t exactly like bowling in gym class, there are different rules. To make the game more team-oriented, they play by what is called a “baker-system.”
“A baker-system is a fun way [to bowl]. Basically there are five people per team,and the first player bowls frames one and six, the second bowls two and seven, and so forth,” described Plese.
Lariat Lanes will sponsor next year’s team. They will provide free lanes for practices and conferences for Edina’s team for their mid-September to mid-November season.
The Minnesota High School Bowling League currently has 134 varsity teams and 110 junior varsity teams. Minnesota High School Bowling League allows anyone from grades 7-12 to participate.
“The bowling club does not take up much time,” added Plese. There are only practices twice a week after school, and meets are around two hours long on Saturday afternoons.
If you are interested in joining or would like any more information, contact Mary Plese at [email protected] and 612-877-0935 or Karen Beese at [email protected] and 612-747-1256.
