The Shield: Where and when did you start bowling?
Anthony Bourda: I started bowling freshman year, I just found something that kind of just interested me in the beginning of high school.
TS: What made you want to start bowling?
AB: It just interested me, I just had an appreciation for it. I don’t have any family members that were into bowling and just somehow on my own got into it.
TS: What was the highest score you made?
AB: 267 so far.
TS: How did you feel when you bowled a 267?
AB: It was alright, I was just taking my time and wasn’t getting too far ahead of myself. It was pretty good though. I wasn’t excited or anything at that moment, it kind of just kicked in after the game that I realized that I bowled that high. I wasn’t thinking of the score when I made it, I would normally go for an average of 180, but 267 I wasn’t even thinking of the score when I made it. When I bowl I don’t really pay attention to the score, I just focus on the shots.
TS: Do you have a bowling bag, if so what’s in it?

AB: Yea I have a bowling bag, in it I have two balls so far and a couple of accessories like tape to help adjust the thumb hole and some shoes.
TS: How do you spin or curve your ball?
AB: I normally start with my arm straight out then I finish with my arm out and tilted to the right since I’m a right handed.
TS: Any difficulties when bowling?
AB: When I first started the hardest thing was getting used to the equipment and all.
TS: What’s your favorite “Bowling Center” food?
AB: I don’t usually eat the food at Dart Bowl, I normally just get a drink from the vending machine.
TS: What’s your favorite strategy/tactic when trying to get a strike or knock down any pin?
AB: I just make a couple of adjustments and see what’s right for me amd go with it.
TS: How have you improved from when you first started to today?
AB: It takes a lot of time and a lot of focus and a lot of commitment because it has gotten me pretty far.
TS: Any upcoming matches?
AB: This weekend we have a tournament in Georgetown where the first four teams competed (The first four girl teams and the first four boys team) this saturday at 11am (11/4).
TS: How does the team get along?
AB: We are kind of friends. We just stay calm and try to help each other out and motivate each other.
TS: How does bowling as a team work?
AB: Practicing on some things and see what needs improvement. Before a big match we don’t think about it, but we are at least like we got this we will do great.
TS: How does practice work?
AB: We practice at Dart Bowl. I normally just work on adjustments when we practice, I don’t focus on making strikes because it’s not just about making strikes. Other than that for me it’s finding what angles work for me. I practice 2-3 times a week.
TS: How do you prepare for a big match?
AB: Like this weekend I feel like we have nothing to lose and that’s the type of attitude i have because we already know what’s going to happen.
TS: What are you hoping for this season?
AB: Just staying in the moment and influencing each other because we seem to influence each other and i don’t know sometimes I just want that motivation to carry over.