For White County Warriors girls bowling head coach Roger Thorpe, the foundation of his coaching philosophy was laid long before he ever stepped into a high school bowling alley. It started with his father.
Thorpe said his dad introduced him to the game at a young age, passing down lessons that still shape the way he teaches bowling today. Those early experiences carried Thorpe through his own high school bowling career and eventually into a leadership role, as he was named White County’s head coach for both the girls and boys bowling teams in 2023.
Now entering his third season as girls head coach, Thorpe said he continues to rely on the same fundamentals he learned growing up, blending accuracy and power while understanding that no two bowlers are the same.
“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 took over a White County program with a strong recent history. The Warriors qualified for the state tournament four consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2022, establishing themselves as a consistent postseason presence. Since then, the team has been searching for a return trip to state, a challenge Thorpe said he embraces with patience. Thorpe said bowling can be as unpredictable as any sport.
“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.”
That mindset has been especially important as the Warriors navigate their final stretch of the season focused on growth and development. Above all else, Thorpe said he wants his players to enjoy the game.
“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.”
As the season continues, Thorpe said he hopes the lessons he learned from his father, now passed on to his players, will help guide the Warriors forward, one frame at a time.
