FGCU’s Bowling Club was started in 2021 for those looking to get involved in a club sport on campus.
Chris Giourgas has loved getting to know his fellow club members and has made some lifelong friends within the club.
“For me, it’s been great, you’ll for sure make friends since you’re sharing a lane with them for months at a time, while also being able to get better at bowling as usually you around others who share different levels of skill at bowling,” Giourgas said.
The club doesn’t compete in tournaments yet, but they are looking to make that a reality as soon as possible. However, the team has a travel club for students looking to get involved to up their game.
“We do compete. Unfortunately, it’s only for fun right now,” Giourgas said. “I haven’t been to one yet, but am working on my averages to compete in them.”
What encourages Giourgas is the support he receives from his fellow bowlers and the camaraderie in the club.
“You can bowl as bad as you can, and you’ll still have people root for you. Be supportive no matter what,” Giourgas said.
The Bowling Club has 64 members, but they want to encourage their members to become more active and attend more of their meetings to grow.
“I’d love for the president to build a small alley we can participate in, and I hope one day that FGCU can form an NCAA team for the college level, similar to lacrosse and hockey,” Giourgas said.
Dylan Sharp joined the club to up her game and she enjoys playing games with her friends.
“My favorite thing about the club is how nice and inclusive everyone is. You don’t have to be good at bowling to join the club, everyone is just there to have a good time,” Sharp said.
For Sharp, bowling was more about having fun, and she encouraged others to come out to bowl a few games and meet some people in the club.
“Put yourself out there and give it a try. You don’t have to have your own equipment or meet a certain skill set. You can come out to HeadPinz, have fun, and bowl for free,” Sharp said.
The club meets from 7:30-10 p.m. on Wednesdays at HeadPinz, while also meeting at Lightning Strikes Bowl 7:30-10 p.m. on Thursdays.
