KEARNEY, Neb. — For Chuck Brisbin and the Kearney bowling community, a Tuesday afternoon trip to Big Apple Bowling Center was decades in the making. 

“It’s really magical, actually. I just never thought it would happen.”

Brisbin graduated from Kearney High 30 years ago and has been among those lobbying the Nebraska School Activities Association to make bowling a sanctioned sport ever since. That happened in 2021. Now, a few years later, Brisbin is coaching his alma mater in its first competition. And the students have turned out.

“At one point I didn’t even know if we were going to have a girls team, to the point (now) we have a JV girls team. So, there’s a lot of people, especially in the bowling community, that just kept on everybody.”

Senior Claire Gangwish is among those recruited to join the team.

“I was like, what the heck. What could I lose? This is going to be a fun experience, I’m going to be part of a new team and I’ve loved every second of it so much.”

She’s one of 12 girls and 16 boys on the Bearcats’ roster. The team started practicing at the end of November and meets three times a week. The camaraderie keeps bringing them back.

“I have met so many people and gotten closer with other friends through this sport.”

“It’s just awesome because you’ll have friends in this bowling industry forever.”

But make no mistake, the newest sport at Kearney High is still fueled by the thrill of victory.

“It’s also really fun getting a strike. Nothing beats that feeling when you get a strike after maybe you were bowling really bad and you know that you can do it.”