Almaden Resident
Education
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
School Strike: Leland High School senior Jesse Talaugon takes one last throw down the lanes during her first-period bowling class at 300 San Jose.
Early-morning bowling class a hit with seniors
By Eli Segall
Some classes can be such a drag. Every day, high school students across San Jose endure lessons in calculus and chemistry, Saxons and Romans, and grammar and geometry. Leland High School students can add a different sort of class to the list--bowling.
Two classes of 40 bowlers each take this popular, seniors-only elective. Students roll out of bed twice a week and head to 300 San Jose, the former Oakridge Lanes, to bowl from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.
Leland classes officially start 45 minutes after bowling does, but students are not bothered by the early-morning roll times. To the contrary, it is a fun and special part of their day, a class few would dare cut.
"It's bowling for a class. The name alone makes you want to do it," said Leland bowler Eamon Vandaei.
The class, taught by Leland High School athletic director Chris Hansen, offers students an introduction to bowling basics: form, delivery and how to keep score. Except for small tests on the fundamentals, grades are almost entirely attendance-based.
"The kids absolutely love it," Hansen said. "It's a social thing, but it's also an eye-opener. They see they can actually get better at this."
Students notice the improvement in their bowling abilities, and for some, the class has sparked a deeper interest in the sport. Senior Megan McDonald has seen her average score double since entering the course, and has even started bowling on weekends.
"It's great," said bowler Joe Peera. "We get good morning exercise, good competition, and it's with your friends.
"Plus, it's seniors only," he added.
This "seniors only" mantra is echoed by almost all of Hansen's students. Bowling is a source of pride for them, a unique class set aside exclusively for Leland's graduating seniors, the top dogs of campus life.
"This year a few students told me bowling is a 'rite of passage,' " Hansen said, smiling. "I've never laughed so hard in my life."
Bowling was introduced to the school in the early 1980s by then-athletic director Barbara Beard. At the time, Leland had a list of offbeat activities, including sailing, racquetball, hunter safety, rock climbing and fly fishing in the school's swimming pool.
Most of the courses fell victim to budget cuts or dwindling participation. Bowling, however, has seen its enrollment double since its founding.
"We were looking for elective choices that would keep upper classmen interested," said Beard, the current chair of Blossom Valley Athletic League. "The only one that stayed was bowling."
Keeping students focused on school is only part of bowling's power. Another goal for Leland is to convey the benefits of regular physical exercise, Hensen said, and the idea seems to be sticking.
"Bowling makes you energized for the day," said senior Madison Souther. "You get wide awake. It just makes the day better."
The class is formatted to resemble a standard league game. After a brief warm-up, students pair off in teams of two and roll against each other. Although score is automatically tallied on an overhead screen, the bowlers must write out their own pin count and tabulate the score themselves.
As in any sport, some are better than others. But for all the students, bowling with friends and learning lessons on the lanes makes getting up an hour early well worth it.
"It's just really fun," said senior Jon Erickson. "It's something special for us."
