Youth bowling leagues bring kids together

Every Sunday the kids of Thompson Falls and surrounding areas gather at the Rimrock bowling alley for youth bowling. This year the program has 27 youth bowlers ranging from age 6 to 18. The bowlers are separated into three different groups based on age, the bumper team being the youngest bowlers, youth and high school.

The youth bowling program is sponsored by both local businesses and private sponsorships. Led by a team of four local humanitarians, they are considered both coaches and teachers. Teresa Wilhite, Sandy True, Ron Beaty and Ginger Ward all have years of experience in the bowling world and now they want to give back to the community by teaching the game.

"We don't want to push them, we want them to have fun. All ages are welcome, we want to teach according to the kids and what they're interested in." True stated. The league runs from December to mid-March, and takes place every Sunday. "We're just trying to expose them to the game, and we would like for them to be successful," True said. According to Beaty, this year they finally have use for the bumpers for the new kids coming in. "I like to talk to the parents to make sure the kids want to be on the bumpers, which most of them do," Beaty said.

Wilhite, who has been teaching the game since she was in high school, finds that this sport is good for the kids because any age group can play. "I think it creates a good environment," Wilhite stated. She also noted that the support from the community helps the program in many ways.

One of those ways is a scholarship fund for anyone 18 and under who would like to be a part of youth bowling. The money for the scholarship fund comes from all around the community, from local businesses, private donors and the local bowlers themselves. "All the adult leagues donate to the scholarship fund that is offered," Beaty mentioned. Wilhite also spoke about another way the program encourages and supports the youth bowlers. Scholarships for college. Wilhite said the teen league bowlers have the ability to apply for scholarships for college, that have been funded through the adult league bowlers.

While everyone volunteers their time to teach the game to the community's youth, it has become much more than volunteering your time on a Sunday. "It keeps you in touch with the young ones," True affirmed.