Bowling alleys have long felt like a second home for Jackson County girls bowling head coach Debbie Akers.
For nearly three decades, Akers has lived the sport she now teaches, spending 28 years coaching and bowling after first getting her start in league play. Akers said what began as a personal passion soon became a family tradition, one that shaped both her life and her coaching philosophy.
“We took a playpen to the lanes every week when the youngest was born,” Akers said. “I got them into the youth league at five years old. They literally grew up there.”
That dedication followed her sons through their bowling careers, with Akers often responsible for transporting not only them, but their teammates as well. Akers said she watched them develop into high-level competitors, eventually reaching the TSSAA state tournament level, milestones that Akers said remain some of her proudest memories in the sport.
Now, Akers brings that same passion and patience to a young Jackson County girls bowling team looking to take its next step forward.
“We lost a lot of seniors,” Akers said. “Some of the new kids have not bowled competitively or even recreationally before. [But] they’re cheering each other on constantly.”
That unity has stood out to Akers as the season progresses. Despite the learning curve, Akers said the team’s encouragement and willingness to grow together has been a bright spot in the rebuilding process.
Akers said success is not measured solely by wins or postseason appearances, but by individual growth, something Akers has watched firsthand for years.
“I love watching kids reach milestones,” Akers said. “When a bowler learns and gets better, that smile says it all. It feels good seeing them succeed.”
Those milestones have included some remarkable accomplishments over the years, including Akers’ sons combining for 28 perfect 300 games. With a young roster and a coach whose roots in the sport run deep, Akers and the Blue Devils continue to build toward that goal, one frame at a time.