IOWA CITY — By the tenth and final frame of Carson Reid’s bowling set, all eyes were on his lane. The high school senior had accumulated 270 points during his first set as Iowa City, City High School faced off against Xavier Catholic (Cedar Rapids) High School.

The culmination of a bowling game ends in three opportunities to roll the ball for a maximum of 30 more points. A perfect 300.

Reid’s first and second throw were perfect strikes. Friends and family spectated from the viewing area, hands clasped in anticipation. Then came the final roll. Reid slightly shimmied his hips at the back of the lane. He cradles the ball, almost like a baby, as he shuffled forward with uneven steps. The usual sound of pins tumbling to the ground and heavy bowling balls thudding against the wood was absent.

The ball veered toward the gutter before pivoting to hit the center of the pins.

One was left standing.

The groans quickly turned to applause as the jam-packed Colonial Lanes bowling alley celebrated Reid’s 11 consecutive strikes, despite the bittersweet ending. Reid, a student from Solon High School, has been bowling with the City High team for the past four years.

This matchup, however, marked the first time his peers drove down to Iowa City to watch him bowl.

“It was pretty cool to bowl that well in front of them,” he said.

Because Solon doesn’t have a bowling team, Both Reid and junior Trendon Walker make the trek from Solon to Iowa City for practices and meets. On Friday, Feb. 7, during the matchup between City High and Xavier High School, Reid bowled a 299 and 247, while Walker bowled a 224 and 213.

City High Athletics Director Phil Lala said it was rather common for students from smaller towns to compete with City High, as Iowa City’s student population allows for a more diverse set of athletics opportunities students can participate in.

Lala said, despite going to different schools, both Reid and Walker have adapted to City High’s team and made valuable connections with both the players and the coaching staff.

“If you didn’t know they were from Solon, you’d just assume they were City High kids,” Lala said. Reid and Walker’s participation has expanded their own classmates’ perception of bowling. Lily Owen, a student at Solon High School, made the drive down from Solon to Iowa City after school on a Friday to watch her classmates compete.

While this was only her first time coming down to support, Owen said she enjoyed attending the matchup.

“Bowling is definitely underrated,” Owen said. “I feel like I don’t see a bunch of people coming and supporting.” Pyeper Hurd, another student who attended the Friday matchup, said the perception surrounding bowling tends to be pretty negative. Hurd said the work that these players put into their craft — not only the act of bowling itself but the dedication required from the Solon players who have to travel — is an underrecognized component.

“Honestly, the fact that they travel so far to play the sport they love is inspiring,” Hurd said.

Along with support from their Solon classmates, Reid and Walker said they have felt supported by their fellow athletes at City High.

“It was a little different at first because you don’t know anyone,” Walker said. “But now I’ve made plenty of friends.”

The energy before the start of the bowling matchup was unexpectedly vibrant, with both the City High and Xaiver teams chanting in huddles before starting. As the competition progressed, bowlers gave each other
subtle high fives and fist bumps in passing after each good roll.

However, despite any and all outside energy, Reid said the most important part of his game is focusing on his own peace and consistency — hence the almost-perfect game in front of a rowdy crowd.

“You really have to try your hardest to not think about it,” Reid said. “Whatever happens, happens.”