Senior Ashlyn Shuffstall said that she considers bowling her main sport, but has played many sports and has for years.
When Ashlyn’s mom asked her to try a kid’s bowling league when she was four, she said she did and ended up sticking with it.
Ashlyn said that she always liked to try new things and has always enjoyed doing sports. “It keeps me busy, keeps me active, and definitely helps me mentally,” she added.
Ashlyn has also played field hockey since eighth grade, and re-joined cross-country during her junior year, after running in seventh grade.
She said that each team that she’s part of has a different atmosphere. “Cross country feels most like family; field hockey is really competitive, but everyone is nice about it, and bowling is just supportive because we have to work together to do well,” she explained.
According to Ashlyn, she had a knee injury that started her junior year on track, which also impacted her cross-country season last fall. However, after she was cleared from physical therapy, she was able to play field hockey this year.
Ashlyn added that she loves the environment and the coaches most in bowling. She has qualified for Regionals with her team in her first three years of bowling and then qualified individually in her junior year. “My goal for this season is to qualify for States as a team and individually,” she added.
She added that the best memory from bowling is the hotel stays at Regionals.
“My biggest supporter is definitely my friend, (Senior) Lily Johnson. She’s the reason I came back to Field Hockey. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it again but also, she’s there through everything–sports and academics,” she said.
“Ashlyn is a great contributor to the bowling team,” said Bowling Coach Mark Artley, “She brings out the best in the rest of the team, as she is always smiling and having fun. She is one of the hardest workers and consistently strives to improve.”
Ashlyn plans to attend Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Because of her interest in sports, she said she will major in sports management, and she plans to bowl for their women’s team as well.
