ST. PAUL - Three St. Paul bowlers will be heading to nationals this summer, after taking part in provincial competitions earlier in March.
Natalya Langevin and Hope Petrie earned a spot at nationals following a provincial tournament held on March 13 in St. Albert. The pair is coached by Andre Langevin, who earned himself a spot at an upcoming national competition too.
After only having a few weeks worth of a bowling season in 2020-21 due to the pandemic, Natalya and Hope have been practicing much more regularly, and they're working on breaking any bad habits that may have formed in their time away from the sport.
Hope admits that it was quite devastating to be away from a sport she's played weekly for the past 10 years. And it was a steep learning curve when she was able to return to the bowling alley.
Now 16 years old, Hope followed in her older siblings footsteps and started bowling at the age of five. Natalya, 17, started playing league at six years old, but with parents who own and operate the bowling alley located in St. Paul, Parellel Lanes, she's very much grown up around the sport.
The upcoming trip, which will take the team to Oshawa, Ont., will be Natalya's fourth appearance at nationals, but it is her first time going as part of a team. For Hope, the trip to nationals is an entirely new experience.
Looking back on the provincial competition that took place a few weeks prior, Hope says it's important to relax when competing. However, she admits she can get quite nervous.
"It's a mental game," says Hope, adding, it doesn't matter how well you may have bowled leading up to the event, what matters is how you do on the day of the competition.
She acknowledges that sometimes, she can overthink, and push too hard.
While coaching her during the provincial event, Andre had to remind her to "stop thinking," recalls Hope.
But, as the provincial competition went on, she realized there really was a good shot for the pair to move on to nationals. The opportunity is one-of-a-kind since it is Natalya's last year competing at the senior level.
Having missed a full season due to the pandemic, Natalya made up for lost time at the provincial event, getting the highest scratch in the senior girls division, and earning herself a $1,000 scholarship.
Looking back to the time she spent at the bowling alley in St. Paul as a kid, Natalya remembers how when she was just five years old, she was determined to bowl like everyone else, using just one hand. So, she would bowl every afternoon. And, by the end of the year, she could do it.
The sport is an escape for Natalya. When she's playing, she can clear her mind and forget her problems.
"COVID doesn't exist, school doesn't exist... it's just you and the ball," she says.
For Hope, it's the feeling of getting a strike that keeps her coming back. But, the sport has also taught her to never give up, and that hard work pays off.
The pair will be heading to Oshawa in July for three days of competition July 10-12. The facilities in Oshawa are very different than the St. Paul bowling alley. There are 52 lanes for bowling, along with go-karts, arcades, and an huge facility to enjoy.
Speaking to what motivates her, Natalya says she's learned that there will always be people who put you down in life, but she encourages people to use that to their advantage.
She's experienced firsthand how coming from a small town can be seen as a disadvantage, and she's been told she wasn't talented enough. But, she believes if you practice hard enough and really want to succeed, you will.
Along with coaching and running the St. Paul bowling alley, Andre also finds time to compete in the Masters Bowling Association. Coaches gather and have their own tournament, he explains.
After winning at a provincial event on March 19, Andre also earned himself a spot at nationals the weekend before he heads to Oshawa. Andre will compete in Edmonton, after winning in the 50+ senior category at provincials.
Andre has been bowling league since 1994, but even he has to remind himself to focus on the task at hand and just bowl the best he can.
During her dad's provincial event, Natalya spent the weekend offering him some unofficial coaching support.
"It was nerve wracking," says Natalya, as she teases her dad, reminding him of all the tips she offered him.
Andre will be bowling over four days in early July as he competes at the national event.
