Sophomore bowler asia mcclelland strikes her way to Ibca state tourney

Carmen Thomas
onwardtrojans.com

When Asia McClelland’s name was announced as a state qualifier, she couldn’t believe it. Her achievement is a culmination of years of work in a sport that’s far from easy.
McClelland isn’t new to bowling, though. It turns out, this sport has always been a part of her life.
“I’ve been around it since I was little,” recalled McClelland. “My parents have
always been on leagues and stuff. They got me into it.”
Her early exposure to bowling made her love the sport. She’s an athlete who
knows what she’s doing. That’s why she – as just a sophomore in high school – qualified for the Indiana Bowling Centers Association (IBCA) state competition.
But McClelland’s training is far from typical – it requires a bowling alley, meaning she can’t practice at CHS like most athletes. She has to travel to a local bowling alley just to train. But once she’s there, her regimen is similar to many other sports: stretching and strengthening.
“I usually start with some warm-ups. Just with my wrist, and stretching and stuff like that,” described McClelland. “I’ll go into some throwing and then I’ll do full throws.”
Similar to tennis and swimming, bowling is both an individual and a team sport.
Bowlers’ scores help their team score, but they can also win individual glory.
“For high school meets, we go against one person,” explained McClelland. “Also, we’re working as a team to beat their whole score.”
For the state qualifying competition, the stakes are especially high. Tension runs through the air as bowlers warm up all around the bowling alley.
“It can be stressful sometimes,” recounted McClelland. “I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it.”
McClelland bowled three matches at the tournament, scoring a total of 526
points across the three games – a score higher than most of her competitors. She placed 11th overall, qualifying her for the state tournament.
“I kind of teared up when they announced my name,” said McClelland. “It made me really happy and excited.”
McClelland’s journey to state hasn’t been a solo one, though. Her parents
introduced her to the sport, and their support continues to this day. Additionally, countless people have come alongside her and offered their support.
“My friends and family mostly, they tell me to do the best I can every day,” said McClelland.
When asked to advise younger bowlers who want to follow in her footsteps,
McClelland had some solid insights to give.
“Practice. I know sometimes it can be hard and the mental game is really tough, but honestly just stick through it,” advised McClelland.
McClelland will continue practicing throughout these next few weeks, honing her skills and improving her game. She’ll travel to Indianapolis this weekend, Feb 15-16, to compete against the best high school bowlers in Indiana.