The bowling team had a new face in the lanes this year as Angela Thorn joined the team as assistant coach.
“I think that the team adjusted really well to having her as a coach. I personally felt that she helped unite us as a team and that we benefited from having her as a coach,” senior Addison Tate said.
Thorn is also a volleyball coach, along with being a PE teacher, but this year she joined the bowling team to be an assistant coach and help out with the JV teams. She quickly adapted and became close with the team, according to senior Braden Armour.
“The team was very excited to have her as a coach and quickly became part of our family,” he said.
The transition to becoming a coach and getting close with the team wasn’t super difficult according to Thorn.
“I knew a few people, so that helped,” Thorn said. “I was excited to meet new people and everyone was so welcoming and that made it a lot easier,” she said.
Both the boys and girls teams have had solid seasons so far this year, with the boys going to state and the girls winning metros, creating memories for the coaches and players.
“One memory I have of Mrs. Thorn from this season is her bringing her NeeDohs to our last duel and everyone laughing and passing them around as we marked. It helped boost our morale and helped us do better as a team,” Tate said.
Throughout the season, the team had challenges of being in their heads and all having moments where they were down, however Coach Thorn helped the players in those moments.
“One memory I have is when we were at Mockingbird for a duel and I was in my head,” Armour said. “I couldn’t get a mark and she pulled me out of it. I went 6 strikes in a row to finish the game in the 180s,” he said.
“She supported me by giving helpful feedback when I was struggling during games and practice, whether it was reminding me of my form or to keep a positive attitude,” Tate said.
According to the players, Thorn really stood out to them as a coach and a positive role model.
“Her positivity and the way she inspires kids is what stood out to me,” Armour said. “Thorn supports everyone that she meets– talking and listening to her athletes and building them up to be the best version of themselves,” he said.
“One thing that stood out to me is that she was always ready to step in and help us, and she was always pushing us to be better,” Tate said.
As it was her first year, there’s always ways to improve.
“I am so excited to be a part of this program and can’t wait for the future, Thorn said. “I want to take what knowledge I learned from this season and improve on it for next season.”
