On Feb. 13, the Kennedy Girls’ Bowling Team competed in their state qualification event. Junior Kaylee Harris achieved first in individual bowling against 41 other competitors, with scores of 256, 192 and 205 across three games for a series of 653. 

Harris is a junior bowler at Kennedy, coached by Diane Bader and on a team consisting of six varsity bowlers.

“We have practice twice a week at CRBC but I usually go out four or five times a week to get extra practice in,” Harris said. “It’s a lot, but I know that I’m a student first and then an athlete so I have to balance my time.”

Harris leads her team, putting in extra hours and scoring well as a consequence. Her other key traits for bowling are motivation and effort. 

“It feels amazing,” Harris said. “It is something I have always wanted to do. I have to put in a ton of practice to get to this point. I just remember that I am doing the best that I can and I can’t change the last ball but I can change the next.”

Harris has other aspirations and goals she aims towards including possible plans for bowling in the future.

“I really want to bowl a perfect game and I know it will happen eventually,” Harris said. “I also want to place higher this year than I did last year at state. Last year I placed 16th out of 32 girls. I plan on practicing with the other boys who are going to state and then I also have two tournaments this weekend that will help me get more practice in.”

The state competition where Harris and other bowlers around the stat,e will be competing on Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. at Maple Lanes in Waterloo.