Grady Hyland
Clarendon Hills
When did you first start bowling?
I've played in the past, just recreationally, for fun. This is the first year that I actually got on the team and have been taking it seriously.
Why did you try out?
Some of my friends were doing it, and I just finished football, and it was my last high school sport that I was ever going to play. I just wanted something to do with my time.
How do you stay in a positive mindset?
I play baseball as a pitcher, so it's kind of similar for me in a way. I'll just take some deep breaths when I go up there and focus only on what I'm about to be doing. And if I mess up at all, I just do the same thing. I take some deep breaths and focus on how I'm going to fix what I do next time instead of focusing on how I made a bad shot and didn't score as much as I wanted to.
What is your highest score so far?
I scored a 222 my first match. I haven't been able to top that, but I've come close.
What is a great piece of advice you've gotten from a coach?
I think mainly just not staying in your head too much and getting down on yourself, because once you start to get down on yourself and you worry too much, you only focus on that and you can't focus on turning things around.
What is your goal for the season?
I'd say I want to roll a 600 game (three games). That's definitely my goal for the season.
Why does coach Alex Hipskind like having Hyland on the team?
Grady is a very committed bowler. He is at every practice and every match. He takes the sport seriously, striving to better himself and his teammates. If he does not bowl well, Grady takes it to heart and genuinely tries to improve and correct his mistakes. Grady is a very low-key and drama-free bowler and student. He never makes the game or the match or the lesson plan about himself - he quietly goes about his business in a very professional way. It has been a pleasure having Grady Hyland both in class and on the bowling team.
- profile by Pamela Lannom, photo by Jim Slonoff
