Practice – three days a week, every week – at Station 300 Bowling Alley focusing on repetition, form and speed. Watching from the sidelines, Skyline Bowling Coach Roger Ratkowski keeps a close eye on the athletes, offering tips and correcting their form.
Despite the dedication of their players, the Skyline Bowling Team is lacking members due to how few people know about the team. Bowling too often falls under the radar amongst other more popular varsity sports. “It is just a more laid back, light hearted sport,” says Ratkowski.
When it comes to sports, bowling is by far the most inclusive sport there is. “[I’ve seen] a four year old and a grandmother bowl with one of our bowlers at our banquet,” says Ratkowski. “It doesn’t matter your age… it’s a skill sport so anybody can learn it. [It’s] a universal sport. You don’t have to be a five star athlete, you just have to show up.”
Bowling is a great outlet to get out of the house, socialize, stay physical, and have fun. “I have made a couple of friends [since joining],” says player Reece Hanrath (‘26).
Other team members express similar sentiments. “I have made a lot of friends [on the team],” says Team Captain Marc Ordonez (‘26). “I’ve been able to connect with a lot of new people that I don’t feel [I would have] connected with unless I did this sport. It helped me get stronger, throwing 16 pound balls for hours on end.”
Currently, the bowling team has five men but only four women (two of whom are graduating), falling short of the required five players for a full team for matches.
The Skyline bowling team is welcoming new members of all skill levels. The competitive season runs through November until late February, but players continue to hone their techniques throughout the year. For more information about joining, contact Head Coach Ratkowski at [email protected].
