The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
The UAB Players’ Tribune: Bowling’s Rachel Strogin
4/27/2020 11:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
During these difficult times, it made me reflect on the reasons why I am the bowler I am today. I started bowling when I was around five. My dad was a great bowler which stemmed from my grandmother. In Ohio, bowling was a popular sport which made it easier to compete in leagues and competitions up until college.
Bowling in high school was a great experience and I continued to get better. My senior year of high school was probably my best year of bowling before college. During this time, I had to decide if I was going to bowl in college or not and honestly, I was not sure. I was really insecure about my bowling at the time. After much consideration, I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to compete in college.
Thankfully, Michelle Crews, the head coach of Women's Bowling at UAB gave me that chance. There is so much to say about Coach Crews. The commitment she gave to me and this team these past four years was phenomenal. It was a great honor to be invited because the bowling team was just reinstated along with football and rifle after being cut.
I always looked at myself as average before coming to college. My bowling game and self-confidence reached new heights towards the end of my junior year and entering my senior year of college. In April 2019, I competed in the 2019 USBC ISC National Championship in my home state of Ohio. My family was able to come and watch as I finished in sixth place. I had a great showing and was very proud of myself! I was looking forward to returning my senior year for another chance at this title, but that simply would not happen due to COVID-19. I started my senior year off with a huge accomplishment. I earned my first All-Tournament Team award at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Invitational in Louisiana this past October. I finished in third place and happy wouldn't even begin to describe how I felt that day.
My senior year was going great until we received the dreaded phone call that would alter the season within a blink of an eye. It was March 12th and we were about to leave for the 2020 USBC ISC and ITC sectionals in Smyrna, Tennessee for a chance to qualify for the USBC ISC and ITC National Championship. Coach received a call that the event was suspended due to the risks of COVID-19. The following week was our MEAC conference championship in Virginia and it was also. Eventually, the season was over and before I knew it, I was headed back to Ohio to finish my last semester at UAB online. Even though the season was over, I received a last surprise. I was named to the All-MEAC Third Team. Although this was great news, I felt a bit empty because I wasn't around my bowling family to enjoy it.
I wish I had time to reflect on all of our accomplishments here but there is simply not enough time. I learned so much through this program. I learned to become more accountable, leadership, hard work, and discipline. It was not always easy, but I always had the support I needed at UAB. But following this sudden change, I had very little time to say goodbye and thank you to everyone at UAB. Honestly, that was the hardest part of this whole situation. I did not get to say a proper goodbye to very important people who have also been on this four-year journey with me. These people include my strength coach, my academic advisor, my bowling coach, and the many people who worked at the bowling alley who were also a huge part of our success on the lanes. Although COVID-19 may have taken away the end of my senior year, it will never take away the four years of experience and memories I made at UAB.
Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal
Rachel Strogin
UAB Bowling #17
Bowling in high school was a great experience and I continued to get better. My senior year of high school was probably my best year of bowling before college. During this time, I had to decide if I was going to bowl in college or not and honestly, I was not sure. I was really insecure about my bowling at the time. After much consideration, I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to compete in college.
Thankfully, Michelle Crews, the head coach of Women's Bowling at UAB gave me that chance. There is so much to say about Coach Crews. The commitment she gave to me and this team these past four years was phenomenal. It was a great honor to be invited because the bowling team was just reinstated along with football and rifle after being cut.
I always looked at myself as average before coming to college. My bowling game and self-confidence reached new heights towards the end of my junior year and entering my senior year of college. In April 2019, I competed in the 2019 USBC ISC National Championship in my home state of Ohio. My family was able to come and watch as I finished in sixth place. I had a great showing and was very proud of myself! I was looking forward to returning my senior year for another chance at this title, but that simply would not happen due to COVID-19. I started my senior year off with a huge accomplishment. I earned my first All-Tournament Team award at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Invitational in Louisiana this past October. I finished in third place and happy wouldn't even begin to describe how I felt that day.
My senior year was going great until we received the dreaded phone call that would alter the season within a blink of an eye. It was March 12th and we were about to leave for the 2020 USBC ISC and ITC sectionals in Smyrna, Tennessee for a chance to qualify for the USBC ISC and ITC National Championship. Coach received a call that the event was suspended due to the risks of COVID-19. The following week was our MEAC conference championship in Virginia and it was also. Eventually, the season was over and before I knew it, I was headed back to Ohio to finish my last semester at UAB online. Even though the season was over, I received a last surprise. I was named to the All-MEAC Third Team. Although this was great news, I felt a bit empty because I wasn't around my bowling family to enjoy it.
I wish I had time to reflect on all of our accomplishments here but there is simply not enough time. I learned so much through this program. I learned to become more accountable, leadership, hard work, and discipline. It was not always easy, but I always had the support I needed at UAB. But following this sudden change, I had very little time to say goodbye and thank you to everyone at UAB. Honestly, that was the hardest part of this whole situation. I did not get to say a proper goodbye to very important people who have also been on this four-year journey with me. These people include my strength coach, my academic advisor, my bowling coach, and the many people who worked at the bowling alley who were also a huge part of our success on the lanes. Although COVID-19 may have taken away the end of my senior year, it will never take away the four years of experience and memories I made at UAB.
Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal
Rachel Strogin
UAB Bowling #17
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