“No one sits on the bench in bowling” is the youth bowling motto at Brownwood’s Academy Lanes. Each year, the local business teaches sixth graders how to bowl via a partnership with the P.E. program at Brownwood Intermediate School.
“I don’t even remember when we started,” said Academy Lanes owner, Lee Baird, “but it’s been a long time.” There are bowlers in the adult league who learned to bowl in sixth grade, and they now have children of their own. Baird said they continue to do it, because it teaches students a life skill that they can use for a long time. “It’s a good age,” he added. “they can handle the ball, and they like to have fun.”
Five days a week for six weeks, Academy Lanes staff teach the sixth grade P.E. class. Students and their coaches walk to the bowling center from school and spend 35 minutes bowling. The cost to the students is only $8 for the entire course.
The P.E. coaches and students at Brownwood Intermediate are very appreciative to Academy Lanes for their commitment to the program. “They deserve a big thank you,” said Coaches Brandon Brown and Stefenia Phipps.
In addition to teaching the students to bowl, Academy Lanes also has a started a youth bowling league. It is a seven week league that will meet on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 pm, beginning March 16th. Participants will get their own ball and bag, along with free games and prizes. The cost is $80 and may be pre-paid or paid weekly. For more information, contact Lee Baird or Amy Mercer at 646-0637.
Pictured above: Devon Jefferson, Eli Perez, Bailey Randle and Amy Compean are a few of the sixth graders who learned to bowl during their P.E. class at Academy Lanes. Back row are Principal Chuck Chesser and Academy Lanes staff Lee Baird, Amy Mercer and Robert “Chili” Childress.
