White County Warriors girls bowling head coach Roger Thorpe said he passes down key advice to the team through his dad.
Thorpe’s dad showed Roger the game of bowling early on. Thorpe bowled throughout his high school years before being named the White County head coach in 2023 for the girls and boys teams. Thorpe said the system he uses to improve the kids is one that sees accuracy and power as points of emphasis.
“That’s an individual process right there,” Thorpe said. “You just have to take each individual like they are and help them mold them to their old game. Of course, the slower you throw the ball, the more deflection you’re gonna get. You’re not gonna drive through the pin, in the pocket and knock pins down.”
Thorpe takes over a White County team that made the state tournament four consecutive seasons. The Warriors entered the tournament each year between 2019 and 2022. The Warriors have yet to make the state tournament since. Thorpe said there are times bowling can prove unpredictable.
“You just have to smile and bear with it,” Thorpe said. “There’s no teaching moment with it because any shot, you don’t know what you’re gonna leave. You just have to smile and go on.”
Thorpe said he emphasizes one thing above all else.
“If you’re not gonna have fun then you probably shouldn’t join a bowling team,” Thorpe said. “Win or lose, at the end of the day, they’re all high school kids. You just got to take the good with the bad and in the game of bowling, you have good and bad on every shot so pick up the slack on the next shot.”
Thorpe ran tryouts for both the boys and girls teams to begin the school year. Thorpe begins his third season as girls bowling head coach.
