Every week Junior Brittany Kolatzny spends countless hours on the lanes at Kearny Mesa Bowl and Mira Mesa Bowl in preparation for traveling to two to three bowling tournaments a month all over the West Coast.
Brittany is not exactly your average high school girl. She has high hopes of one day becoming a professional bowler in the United States. “I hope to one day become a professional bowler and go to Collegiate League. Over the years I have met many professional bowlers and it just seems like I have grown up around them my entire life,” said Brittany.
According to the Official United States Bowling Conference Website Collegiate League, bowling has recently grown in popularity and prestige. More than 3,500 student athletes on 200 college and university intercollegiate bowling teams compete in over 80 certified tournaments each year (bowl.com). This particular league is a great opportunity for many young bowlers to gain skills to help them carry on to a professional level.
According to Brittany, her family first introduced her to bowling when she was just three years old. “I started competing in tournaments and traveling when I was 10 years old, so I basically grew up in a bowling alley,” said Brittany.
According to a website dedicated to bowling tournaments, many tournaments are extremely selective. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sets up rules and regulations for invitational bowling tournaments. You must be invited to participate in these bowling tournaments (livestrong.com).
Bowling has always been an important aspect in Brittany’s life. According to Brittany, she has competed in nine different conferences including SoCal, Arizona, and Las Vegas.
Last year, Brittany was awarded Female of the Year in JV Teens Bowling, for her outstanding performance in a Las Vegas tournament where she scored her highest total points to this day. “Female of the Year was a huge deal, even after the second month, no one could beat my total of points that I had scored at that particular tournament,” said Brittany.
Bowling is not a dull as some students may believe. Brittany has been able to find the humor in her beloved sport of bowling. According to Brittany, when she was 14 years old, she was competing at a tournament in Los Angeles. At this tournament, she left a particular split that she had never left before.
Her mom shouted over the crowd “Hey Brittany do you know what that is called?” Brittany had no idea. So her mom said it was called a “Greek Church.” With the bowling alley being so loud, Brittany misunderstood and when she repeated what she thought she heard she called it “The Green Turd.” “It was funny; the entire bowling alley heard me. So the tournament coordinator Jeff actually announced it over the intercom. So my nickname for a while was ‘The Green Turd,’” said Brittany.
Besides bowling, Brittany is also an incredibly gifted artist who is involved in the ArtsTech Academy at UCHS. “I really love painting and drawing,” said Brittany.
“I don’t know exactly where I want to go to college, but I do know the coaches at Arizona for the Female Bowling Team. However, I also want to see what else will come to me when I start traveling to more bowling tournaments as a senior,” said Brittany. Regardless of what lane Brittany chooses, she’ll be rolling in her future.