The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
The UAB Players' Tribune: Bowling's Taylor Russell
5/26/2020 12:30:00 PM | Women's Bowling
It only seems fitting to start from the beginning and take everyone through my life and path to becoming a collegiate athlete. I got into bowling when I was around five years old. It was at a little alley down the street named Bremen Bowling Lanes in Bremen, Indiana. There were no bumpers back then, for me anyways, because my dad didn't want me to depend on them.
Though my time in that alley was short lived, my love for bowling really began to grow through my years at Rebelanes in Tupelo, Mississippi. Saturday morning league was something I always looked forward to. My growth in the game really came as I began competitive play. I started bowling in SSJBA (Southern Scratch Junior Bowling Association) around fourth or fifth grade. This was a travel tournament that spanned across regions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. I probably bowled in approximately 900 matches from 2007-2015. These competitions are where my competitive nature was sparked. It was during SSJBA that Coach Crews initially had the chance to watch me bowl.
Of course, I couldn't keep life simple and just bowl. I was also involved in choir, private vocal lessons, and band. High school bowling began for me in seventh grade which is where my love for a competitive, team atmosphere came into play. I had the opportunity to live in the excitement and exhilarating feeling of winning with teammates, as we brought home four MHSAA (Mississippi High School Athletic Association) State Championships. I personally brought home four individual awards that hailed me as the best female bowler in the state of Mississippi. High school bowling is what got me interested and eager to move on to the college level. It is where I learned the values of teamwork and the goose bump feeling of making the shot. Not just for myself, but for my teammate's victory.
Through those years of SSJBA and high school bowling, I began bowling in national and statewide tournaments too. I bowled in eight of the annual Junior Gold national events and became a U15 National Champion in 2013, a moment that flipped a switch for me. I returned to Mississippi after winning in Detroit, Michigan that year and quit band to put all of my focus toward bowling. I began private coaching lessons in Chicago, and my game transformed. During this time, I began thinking more about my career on the college level.
While things seemed to be falling into place, I experienced a bump in the road of pursuing college bowling. I began having extreme, sharp pains in my right elbow when throwing shots. It was an unbearable feeling. I went to several doctor's appointments and was told that I had medial epicondylitis (also known as golfer's elbow). I took months off of bowling in order to allow inflammation to subside but none of it worked. Luckily, the family who owned our local alley got me in to see a well-known orthopedic doctor. He worked on Mississippi State athletes and specializes in elbow reconstructive surgery. This doctor wanted to try one more steroid shot and said that if it didn't work, we would schedule surgery. Sure enough, my surgery was scheduled in the following weeks. On December 22, 2014 I underwent Tommy John surgery. I made it out successfully and was on my way to recovery.
I went through months of physical therapy. The therapy was tear worthy, but I worked and pushed myself hard. If I had not rehabilitated correctly, I wouldn't have gained full range of motion back in my elbow and I would have had to end my bowling career. Recovery was successful, and I began setting my sights on which college I wanted to attend. Then, the pain began to arise again.
I went back to my doctor, and I ended up going back into surgery for scar tissue removal. During the time of my second surgery, Coach Crews began pursing me in the recruiting process. This was scary for me because I figured no college coach would want damaged goods. I was terrified that college coaches wouldn't want to offer me what I wanted if they were worried about something happening to my elbow again.
Luckily, I kept Coach Crews in the loop during the recruiting process. She knew that in October of 2015 I was going to have scar tissue removed. The surgery was only going to put me down 3-4 weeks, then I would be back on the lanes.
Less than a month before my scar tissue removal, I had my recruiting visit at UAB. Once I got on campus, I knew this was where I wanted to be. To this day, I can't thank Coach Crews enough for trusting the process and giving me the chance to become a collegiate athlete, despite the tribulations I experienced getting there. She was the first person I contacted to let know that I successfully made it out of my surgery. Eighteen days later, on October 19, 2015, I verbally committed to be a Blazer. Less than a month later on November 12, 2015, I signed my National Letter of Intent.
After going through all of the triumphs and adversities that laid the foundation for me to be the bowler I am today, I can begin to reflect on my journey as a collegiate bowler over the past four years. Though I did not perform stellar every year, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I worked hard, grew as a player and a person and had the chance to bring home All-Tournament and All-Conference titles for UAB. Our team brought home tournament titles with wins over some of the top nationally ranked teams and earned chances to go compete at the national level. Though we never got to call ourselves national champions, I can confidently say that we had more laughs then any team combined. Those laughs and memories will always stay with me.
Though my final season did not end the way I wanted, my four years taught me to be confidence, leadership, and the type of person I want to continue being. Despite being ripped from the chance of knowing when my last shot was truly my last, from having the chance to cry tears with my teammates in my final moments as a Blazer, and from cheering on my teammates one last time, I know that everything happens for a reason.
What I learned from this COVID-19 experience during my senior season, is to not take moments together for granted. Though I will continue living in Birmingham moving forward and will continue to see teammates who still have time left on the team, I have to accept that I will never be with them on the lanes in competition ever again. In the end, I know my time of wearing number two is over, and I am excited to continue on in education. Though the triumphs were high, and the setbacks were low, I would never trade my journey for any other.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part writing my story. Thank you to my Mom, Dad, brother and future sister-in-law, to all of my other family members, to Coach Crews, to my UAB teammates and their parents, to Garrett and his family for the support and love given toward my accomplishments over the past year, to all of my high school coaches and teammates and THS bowling supporters, to the Hartigan's and Rebelanes, to Will Clark, to all of my SSJBA friends and family who helped pave my path, to Vestavia Bowl, to Ryan's Pro Shop, to every booster and person who got UAB bowling reinstated, to all of UAB's athletic staff, and to all of our supporters and UAB bowling fans. This list could go on for a mile, so thanks to anyone and everyone I missed that has had a part!
It's been real, and it's been fun, but it is my time to officially sign out as a Blazer of college athletics.
Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal…ALWAYS,
Taylor Russell
UAB Bowling #2
Though my time in that alley was short lived, my love for bowling really began to grow through my years at Rebelanes in Tupelo, Mississippi. Saturday morning league was something I always looked forward to. My growth in the game really came as I began competitive play. I started bowling in SSJBA (Southern Scratch Junior Bowling Association) around fourth or fifth grade. This was a travel tournament that spanned across regions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. I probably bowled in approximately 900 matches from 2007-2015. These competitions are where my competitive nature was sparked. It was during SSJBA that Coach Crews initially had the chance to watch me bowl.
Of course, I couldn't keep life simple and just bowl. I was also involved in choir, private vocal lessons, and band. High school bowling began for me in seventh grade which is where my love for a competitive, team atmosphere came into play. I had the opportunity to live in the excitement and exhilarating feeling of winning with teammates, as we brought home four MHSAA (Mississippi High School Athletic Association) State Championships. I personally brought home four individual awards that hailed me as the best female bowler in the state of Mississippi. High school bowling is what got me interested and eager to move on to the college level. It is where I learned the values of teamwork and the goose bump feeling of making the shot. Not just for myself, but for my teammate's victory.
Through those years of SSJBA and high school bowling, I began bowling in national and statewide tournaments too. I bowled in eight of the annual Junior Gold national events and became a U15 National Champion in 2013, a moment that flipped a switch for me. I returned to Mississippi after winning in Detroit, Michigan that year and quit band to put all of my focus toward bowling. I began private coaching lessons in Chicago, and my game transformed. During this time, I began thinking more about my career on the college level.
While things seemed to be falling into place, I experienced a bump in the road of pursuing college bowling. I began having extreme, sharp pains in my right elbow when throwing shots. It was an unbearable feeling. I went to several doctor's appointments and was told that I had medial epicondylitis (also known as golfer's elbow). I took months off of bowling in order to allow inflammation to subside but none of it worked. Luckily, the family who owned our local alley got me in to see a well-known orthopedic doctor. He worked on Mississippi State athletes and specializes in elbow reconstructive surgery. This doctor wanted to try one more steroid shot and said that if it didn't work, we would schedule surgery. Sure enough, my surgery was scheduled in the following weeks. On December 22, 2014 I underwent Tommy John surgery. I made it out successfully and was on my way to recovery.
I went through months of physical therapy. The therapy was tear worthy, but I worked and pushed myself hard. If I had not rehabilitated correctly, I wouldn't have gained full range of motion back in my elbow and I would have had to end my bowling career. Recovery was successful, and I began setting my sights on which college I wanted to attend. Then, the pain began to arise again.
I went back to my doctor, and I ended up going back into surgery for scar tissue removal. During the time of my second surgery, Coach Crews began pursing me in the recruiting process. This was scary for me because I figured no college coach would want damaged goods. I was terrified that college coaches wouldn't want to offer me what I wanted if they were worried about something happening to my elbow again.
Luckily, I kept Coach Crews in the loop during the recruiting process. She knew that in October of 2015 I was going to have scar tissue removed. The surgery was only going to put me down 3-4 weeks, then I would be back on the lanes.
Less than a month before my scar tissue removal, I had my recruiting visit at UAB. Once I got on campus, I knew this was where I wanted to be. To this day, I can't thank Coach Crews enough for trusting the process and giving me the chance to become a collegiate athlete, despite the tribulations I experienced getting there. She was the first person I contacted to let know that I successfully made it out of my surgery. Eighteen days later, on October 19, 2015, I verbally committed to be a Blazer. Less than a month later on November 12, 2015, I signed my National Letter of Intent.
After going through all of the triumphs and adversities that laid the foundation for me to be the bowler I am today, I can begin to reflect on my journey as a collegiate bowler over the past four years. Though I did not perform stellar every year, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I worked hard, grew as a player and a person and had the chance to bring home All-Tournament and All-Conference titles for UAB. Our team brought home tournament titles with wins over some of the top nationally ranked teams and earned chances to go compete at the national level. Though we never got to call ourselves national champions, I can confidently say that we had more laughs then any team combined. Those laughs and memories will always stay with me.
Though my final season did not end the way I wanted, my four years taught me to be confidence, leadership, and the type of person I want to continue being. Despite being ripped from the chance of knowing when my last shot was truly my last, from having the chance to cry tears with my teammates in my final moments as a Blazer, and from cheering on my teammates one last time, I know that everything happens for a reason.
What I learned from this COVID-19 experience during my senior season, is to not take moments together for granted. Though I will continue living in Birmingham moving forward and will continue to see teammates who still have time left on the team, I have to accept that I will never be with them on the lanes in competition ever again. In the end, I know my time of wearing number two is over, and I am excited to continue on in education. Though the triumphs were high, and the setbacks were low, I would never trade my journey for any other.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part writing my story. Thank you to my Mom, Dad, brother and future sister-in-law, to all of my other family members, to Coach Crews, to my UAB teammates and their parents, to Garrett and his family for the support and love given toward my accomplishments over the past year, to all of my high school coaches and teammates and THS bowling supporters, to the Hartigan's and Rebelanes, to Will Clark, to all of my SSJBA friends and family who helped pave my path, to Vestavia Bowl, to Ryan's Pro Shop, to every booster and person who got UAB bowling reinstated, to all of UAB's athletic staff, and to all of our supporters and UAB bowling fans. This list could go on for a mile, so thanks to anyone and everyone I missed that has had a part!
It's been real, and it's been fun, but it is my time to officially sign out as a Blazer of college athletics.
Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal…ALWAYS,
Taylor Russell
UAB Bowling #2
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