She never loses focus, keeping her sights set on the 10 dented white pins standing at the end of her lane. Eyeing up her shot, she blocks out all distraction and readies her shot, rushes forward and releases the ball down the 60-foot strip of wood with speed and power. The pins crash in all directions as the crowd cheers, and the announcer calls out, “Strike!”

Junior Chezni Castaneda competed in the UIL singles bowling state meet, a tournament of 60 students from across the state March 24-25. She placed seventh in the first round in her third year to be competing at state.

“We play games and tournaments throughout the year, and then we go to regionals in March,” Castaneda said. “If we qualify as a team at regionals, then we go to state, and if we qualify for singles, then we also go to state.”

The bowling team practices Monday through Thursday nights at Western Bowl in Amarillo and competes at tournaments across the state throughout the year.

“I started bowling when I was a freshman because my mom made me do it,” Castaneda said. “I am really grateful to her for the opportunity and thankful to her for the idea.”

Castaneda was the only bowler from the Canyon team to compete at state.

“We drive down on Friday,” Castaneda said. “Singles bowl Saturday, and if they make the top 16, you go on. After that, teams bowl on Sunday, and the top 16 of them go on.”

Castaneda says she plans to compete in bowling even after high school and for the rest of her life.

“I have met a lot of people through bowling,” Castaneda said. “It has helped me through a few bad situations. When I bowl, I’m happy. There is no drama or negativity, and it is a positive way for me to deal with my emotions.”