Sophomore lefty, Eleanor Reed, is a rock in raider bowling. Out of 300 points, her current match-average of 137 is top of the roster, leading Hale bowl to victories against schools like Chief Sealth. Their current season record is 7 wins to 4 losses, bound to pave the way for more dubs.
Eleanor’s all time high score is a 185, with this season’s record being a 170. Beginning with a strong starting average of 143, it slightly dipped down to 137, “My average is considered pretty good,” said Reed, “but it’s been brought down a bit by some recent matches.”
Amidst the obstacles, Reed’s average is projected to grow and improve throughout the season, and 2 ambitious- but achievable goals have been set. Qualifying for state is her ideal, but an impressive personal record is also on her radar, “I want to bowl a 200,” said Reed, “I would have to get all strikes or spares, but I think I can do it.”
Bowling was not excluded from the effects of getting bumped down to 2A, this year the level of competition differs greatly, taking schools like Lincoln and Roosevelt out of their mix. With her and the team’s raw skill and the decrease in competition, “Our chances for making it to state as a team are looking pretty good,” said Reed, hopeful for the postseason.
To those familiar with bowling as a yearly outing with friends, bowling relies on the basic understanding of throwing the ball and crossing your fingers that it won’t land in the gutter, but strategy and execution are nothing to underestimate in competition. If you’ve ever spent an evening at some bowling lanes, or even picked up a Wii sports remote, you know there are 7 notable blue arrows painted in geese formation on the planks of a bowling lane. Those arrows are responsible for guiding a bowler to their strike, “Most people aim for the second arrow from the right,” said Reed, “but since I’m a lefty, I aim for the ones on the left side.”
Along with Raider bowl, Eleanor plays in the USBC youth league at West Seattle Bowl, allowing her to maintain skills outside of the school season. There are 103 NCAA bowling teams, with the typical match average for a recruitment being 150-170. With her average on the rise, collegiate bowling is a potential next step for Reed, “Bowling in college would be really cool,” said Reed, “I’m not really sure about it, it’s not a priority, but it could be a possibility.”
Even with her season continuing its success, she doesn’t lose sight of the true spirit of the game. Turkeys and spares are the objective, but pins and points are only a fraction of competition, “The most exciting part of a match is when a teammate gets a spare or strike,” said Reed, “It’s just so fun to cheer people on when they do good, it’s the best.”
