Bowling. A sport that began as a way to spend time with his dad has turned into a defining part of Samuel Cleghorn’s high school career.
Now a senior on the Jackson County High School bowling team, Cleghorn has grown from a nervous newcomer into a steady presence for the Blue Devils, helping guide a young roster through the challenges of competitive bowling.
Cleghorn said his introduction to the sport started casually, long before he ever competed for a school team.
“It’s something me and my dad started as a hobby to get together,” Cleghorn said. “But then I really fell in love with the sport, and my dad was like, you should really try out for the school, so I did and it was an amazing opportunity.”
Cleghorn said he remembers his first match vividly, stepping onto the lanes alongside teammates who were mostly seniors at the time. Instead of feeling isolated, he quickly found support from those around him.
Over time, Cleghorn said those veteran bowlers helped him learn not only the fundamentals of bowling, but also the finer points of competing as part of a team.
“It’s more or less where you need to be on the lane and when you don’t need to be on the lane,” Cleghorn said. “They showed me how to hold the bowling ball and walk up, and they also showed me the true team spirit as well.”
One of the most important lessons Cleghorn learned early was lane etiquette, a key aspect of competitive bowling that can impact both performance and team chemistry. Cleghorn said that if another bowler is ready to roll before you, you let them go first, and the same respect applies when it is your turn.
Now in his senior season, Cleghorn said he has taken those lessons and turned them into leadership.
With several bowlers graduating in recent years, Jackson County has welcomed a wave of new athletes to the program. Cleghorn said helping those younger, less experienced bowlers adjust has been the biggest area of growth in his game this season.
“Because a lot of people have left bowling because they graduated, we get a lot of fresh new bowlers who don’t have a lot of experience and were as nervous as I was when I first started,” Cleghorn said. “I just try to be as warm and welcoming as the other seniors were when I first started.”
Cleghorn said team coordination is critical, especially in a sport where timing and order matter every frame. Without it, confusion can set in, leading to frustration, missed opportunities, and lower scores.
Cleghorn began his senior season with the Blue Devils in October, carrying with him the lessons learned from his teammates, his coaches, and the time spent bowling alongside his dad. As Jackson County continues its season, Cleghorn’s steady presence and team-first mindset remain central to the Blue Devils’ approach on the lanes.