BSU Bowling is for Keeps

By Michael D. Sykes II

The Lady Bulldogs bowling team has gone largely unnoticed in the shadow of the main sports on the campus like football and basketball. When asking a student, Joseph Reeder, if he knew that the Lady Bulldogs bowled their way to a title last season, he was in shock.

“I had no idea that they had won a title last season. I didn’t even know when they were competing for one,” Reeder said. This is the reaction that you might get from most Bowie State University students when asking about the Lady Bulldogs. But they won’t let that deter them from competing at the highest level they can.

When asked if the expectation for the Lady Bulldogs was another championship this season, coach Kenneth Scott said “I would definitely say that is our expectation.” Scott seemed to think that this Lady Bulldogs bowling squad had the ability to produce just as much as they did last season—even with a proverbial target on their backs.

Scott may just be on to something. This team isn’t lacking talent by any means. They have the CIAA bowler of the year on the team in Shayla Lightfoot—one of Bowie State’s best athletes. But that isn’t where things stop for this team. They don’t just rely on Shayla for everything—they bowl as a team.

The Bulldogs proved that by bowling to a perfect record at last week’s CIAA North/South event. They bowled to a perfect 12-0 last weekend behind the team’s dominance. Shayla Lightfoot bowled to a total of 2,247 in 10 games according to the Bulldogs Sports website. But she wasn’t without help—Keyandra Bankston also bowled to an average of 198.5.

Lightfoot, Bankston and the rest of the team will be taking their talents to the Virginia Union Invitational next weekend. We should expect more success to come for the Lady Bulldogs as they try to battle their way to another CIAA championship.