What started off as just a P.E. credit she had to get out of the way, math teacher Crystal Smith ended up finding a lifelong hobby at Texas Women’s University.

“Yes, believe it or not I took it as a course in college at Texas Women’s University for P.E. credit and fell in love with it back in 1994 and I’ve been in love with it ever since” Smith said.

Bowling doesn’t sound like a rigorous college course and that proved to be true for Smith, but she has continued to develop her love for bowling and is now going to be coaching the school’s first bowling team.

“We’re going to be practicing Monday nights, 9 p.m. at Plano Super Bowl, and we are going to set up lanes for bowlers to set up certain shots” Smith said. “We’re going to let them practice for at least an hour, if not an hour and a half.”

The school is also going to help supply the participating students with the supplies they need to be successful.

“We’re also going to help them get equipment like bowling balls and figure out which ball works best for them,” Smith said.

As a first year bowling team, practice will be imperative to being able to keep up with the more experienced teams that they will be facing off against this year.

“We’re going to work with them either one on one or we can work with them as a group” Smith said “We’re going to compete against Allen High School, Plano East, Plano West, Plano Senior, McKinney Boyd, McKinney High School and Prosper.”

There will be tryouts to decide who will make the junior varsity and varsity teams for both boys and girls. These bowlers will be selected with the possibility of going to the state tournament in mind.

Smith and Van Tran, the team’s assistant coach, have been selected by the school because of their love for bowling and excitement to start something new.

“I talked to Mr. Goodrich about it last year, and nothing came of, but one of my students’ moms decided that she really wanted to have a bowling team,” Smith said, “She started getting everything going and then she asked me to be the coach and I said absolutely.”

Bowling tryouts are being held Monday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 10th at 9:00 PM at Plano Super Bowl.

For more information about being a part of the bowling team, see Ms. Smith or Mrs. Tran in room D105.