As graduation approaches, I think back to many memorable moments at Mepham. One highlight I will never forget was being part of the Bellmore Merrick CHSD’s bowling team. I had an amazing experience being part of a championship season.

Our entire season was exciting. My teammates from Mepham and Calhoun consistently bowled well. We knew we were a competitive team; however, it was not until the county championships that we realized how good we were. On Saturday, February 2nd, after two rounds and six hours of bowling, our team was victorious. We were the best team in Nassau County! This was the first time BMCHSD Bowling had won the county championship since 1996. I was so proud to be part of this team.

The next step in our championship season was going to states. On March 27-28, we traveled to Syracuse to battle some of the best teams in New York. One would think the six hour ride would have been boring, but instead, the team had a fun time, singing songs, chatting with the coach, and bonding as a group. Maybe it was the anxiety of the upcoming tournament, or maybe it was the excitement of being away from home together, but we continued talking past 1am. The trip really showed me the importance of being part of something greater than just myself.

The state championship was not our best performance. We faced strong competition. There was no repeat victory for the team. But, I feel we already had our win. We were a group of guys from two different schools, who may not have known each other before. We play a sport which is typically individual, yet formed a bond we will remember forever.