Salutations listeners and welcome to the player profiles podcast I am your host, Joplin Israel and if you're looking to get to know the many great athletes here at St. David University And I must say you've definitely arrived at the correct destination. So who is the athlete that is going to be featured on today's episode? Well, I'll let my imaginary interview wheel answer that question.
Hey cut the music real quick. Alright, let's give this thing a girl spin and today's athlete is going to be Ah Monica Darrow Hailing from Elginola noise she is a sophomore on the S. X. U.
Women's bowling team. Well, let's get it rolling I sat down and talked to Monica and here's how I went I'd like to welcome in a member of the S. X. U.
Women's bowling team Monica Bowen arrow Darrow Okay, I got really corny there Monica Darrow everybody. I'd like to welcome her in Monica. Thank you so much for doing this Yeah, I usually I really have a knack for grabbing people on the bowling team So I mean it's a testament to your chemistry because you all you all seem to always be together and I guess whether it be at bowling events or on interview you guys are always right there together, so Yeah, but I guess my first question for you is I know bowling is um not it's one of the more interesting sports competitively Because it's you know not a lot of people talk about it So I have to ask you what got you into the bowling well It's always been a family thing so my grandpa bold and then he got my dad into it and my dad my uncle bowl And then when I was five like I'd always done other like gymnastics and other sports But when I was five I'd ask my dad I was like when can I start bowling because I'd always grown up watching him and like he always says it's the proudest Because like he's so happy I got to do it. But from there it just became like the thing I'd always bold Saturday morning leagues and then in high school I bold in high school.
I just got going Yeah, that's um, I mean my high school didn't have a bowling team Even though they had a hockey team they didn't have a bowling team And so I just said I'm like these schools actually bold competitively in high school So I have to ask you what was that like I mean did you expect that opportunity to ever come to you? Well, I guess I didn't probably when I was younger I didn't really realize that there was bowling in high school But as I got older and like the girls that I bolded with in like my league on Saturday mornings that everyone does They had started bowling high school and I was like wow like I really want to do that And it was just it was so fun Like so much better than regular bowling like going to league or even I think it's better than bowling tournaments individually Because it's so much fun You have that team atmosphere and I just knew like that I wanted to do it in college too because I knew it was gonna be even better So would you say that bowling like was a big driving force on where you would go to college ultimately? 100% yeah, because I was like education I have everywhere pretty much like it's where do they have bowling teams then so yeah I see what you mean so I know there's a big difference between bowling and high school and bowling in college I mean you can say that about any sport, but what do you think is the biggest difference between bowling and high school and bowling in college? Probably what we bowl on because like so like the oil patterns There's like different oil patterns that you put down depending on what you're doing So like there when when you just go to a bowling alley like with your friends It's like one type of pattern and that's what you bowl on in high school But in college you bowl on like more challenging patterns that have like long like their length is longer They have more oil or less oil and it completely like changes how you have to approach your bowling of that day and like What ball you're gonna be using and that kind of thing But I also think that just the amount of bowling is so much better like the season in college is so much longer because we started practice last week And we are gonna go if we make it all the way till nationals again will go till April so it's like almost the entire year She's that is a marathon.
Yeah, I mean, I know live already told me this but how in the world do you coach such a long season like this? It's it's definitely exhausting like I don't know You have to you really just stay on top of your homework and like what you're doing in school And we all bring our stuff on the road with us And like we'll do the homework on the bus or in the hotel room that night kind of thing But it's definitely it's exhausting like and then you're with each other constantly So it's like you start to get on each other's nerves a little bit towards the end of the season, but I still still so gone September to April Yeah, oh geez that's what once you before five six seven months of Straight grinding it's not even like there's a preseason or anything dedicated like that like to put that in comparison Major league baseball start spring training in like late February. Maybe the season begins early April and that their season ends in October including spring training Their whole season is like eight months and like a month and a half of that is practice is spring training. Yeah It's full strength full force.
No, no breaks all gas for seven months all while you're juggling academics. Yes. Oh my goodness I I first of all I couldn't even imagine being astute nakly second of all that is just amazing How you guys just continue to do this like you're in and you're out And I mean even when you were in high school, I'm sure it had to hold some challenges Yeah, obviously you overcame them enough to want to do it again, and even had a longer and more strenuous pace Um, but yeah, so when you chose things a beer, um coming out of high school It's out of Elgin what in the world made you think that this was the place for you to be? So the schools that I'd been looking at were all like max five hours away And it came down to like this and one school that was like a little bit closer to me But um I had come and practiced with the team and like it was just such a different experience Then the other team I was looking at because I was friends with like the coach there and like gotten to know him and my dad was friends with him And um I had the opportunity to like go there and practice them probably I probably practice them like eight times my senior year And like I loved it, but it was just a completely different experience coming here and meeting the team practicing with them I felt like at home here and just I knew it was where I wanted to be like completely made my decision from there So was it like a was it like a specific like college visit or was it like a team meeting or meeting a coach or what was it?
So like I had done the whole college visit my junior year because I was trying to do all that stuff early And like I like to the school But it was one of the first ones I visited and I like kept in contact with my coach and talked to him And he was like trying to get me out to practice the team since it was so close to because you don't have the opportunity to do that At all the schools because like obviously some of them are five out some of them are five hours away And so getting the opportunity to practice with them like it was just the team was nice The girls were nice. I felt like he like made an effort to like talk to me Which was something that was a little bit different than other coaches had done And obviously you came in year one. Um obviously last year freshman year a lot of success I must say um and a lot of history too. I mean, this is a very young program Not a lot of history.
I mean, there's good history, but it hasn't been around for too long So that means that you're literally like gonna be like one of the pillar stones of like a very young program looking to build up every single year Um, so what was last year like accomplishing all the things that you accomplished and making all that history? Crazy, honestly Um, I think we had all kind of expected like we knew we could do good But then like I would say when it really hit us that like at least me when it hit me that we were doing like good And we were gonna we could come out like with a really good season making it to both nationals Like everything was the tournament that we had won last year Like it just felt like the team finally had like locked and we'd gotten like to know each other We were we had great chemistry and we just knew what each person was gonna do and like what their role was and we knew We could do it and then like moving forward. I don't know. It just seemed like that was like the big starter for all of us At least like like I said like for me.
Yeah, I know what you mean Um, I'm a little bit surprised too because um, that's I mean that is a good moment That is a great, you know a moment where anybody could tell that okay This team is really starting to you know, you know, you know, they're trying to I mean not to trying They have found themselves and they have really you know gotten it going But the very first thing you guys did was win the golden eagle invite and that I mean for you as one of the freshmen on that team It's like step in immediately win and invite. Yeah, what in the world was it like? I mean, was it like a you know welcome to welcome the sx you bowling where we win Well to be completely fair we technically didn't win like we had qualified first for like the match play portion Which is like team against team kind of thing And we technically lost so that but like it was still a big thing where it was like wow like we didn't realize like That we were gonna we didn't realize that it was gonna be like that. I don't think we all kind of like we thought like I said We thought we could do good, but like that was like wow like we actually could do good this year Um, yeah I think that's it was exciting though like that being our first tournament and a lot of it was because like a lot of the teams are more local teams So a lot of people we had both against in high school were there and like we saw them now like as competitors again But like for colleges so I think that part was kind of cool too.
Yeah, no I brought this to Olivia's attention where She had won her school's first sectional in the school's history or something like that And then that same sectional she had to beat out Megan who went to minucca and placed that team place like second And then she had to be barbers Joliet west team who placed third in that sectional so i'm like you mean to tell me the top three the top three teams in that one sectional The three bowlers from each of those three teams ended up at the same school competing with the same purpose on the same team It was like okay that so yeah, that's a testament to really how local Localization is really like anthal because i'm like if I really see People that I competed with my um with um competed with and against in high school at the college level I guess like oh man here we go again But this time they're all for all the team Because I can only imagine like I can imagine like only against like you're like if you had a right that there's a right reason bowling But i'm sure there is i i've experienced one um if there's like a rival that you haven't bowling in high school And then you end up like either on the same team in college or you're ended up there ended up on a rival college team That has to be like insane. Yeah But um yeah, um I do want to ask you this I mean obviously this you're soft more seasoned And um I don't know whether you'll be here for four years or six years I don't know how long it takes to clean education degree or anything like that, but when you you know Ultimately graduate. What do you think you want your legacy to be and what do you think you want the programs legacy to be? I know it's a big question right now, but um I guess I would say probably something along the lines of like that We've kind of helped build a program because like you were saying it is a very young program And that we are technically only like the third or fourth like Class to come in and so I think it's really cool to like you said be a big like starter For that for starting up the program and getting us kind of on the map because obviously we've done a lot of that in the last year And I hope we can continue that and I also think that like Having an influence on the people that come after us too because we've done a lot of like trying to help um influence people and like get them to come here like promoting the school with our coach And I think that's another thing that like I think would be really cool to help influence like the future of the program Yeah, and I also saw a couple of parallels between um the men's and the women's bowling team's at times obviously Um if i'm not mistaken, you see a lot of each other and um you bowl with each other sometimes and um obviously like where they're where one is There's the other um there was some history.
I think there was some history made. I think there was the first 300 Bold on the men's side. Um, I forgot who bolded but I was like well, so we have two different programs Um playing the same sport making history in the same year. How wild is that?
I think it was cool It was a very very cool experience for all of us and like health growing I think honestly bringing the teams even closer than we already are because we're doing all this stuff together and we were both having such like Successful seasons and so like and I know the boys they were very I have to say they were very very excited for us Like they were they were helpful at times They would cheer us on and like I said the tournament we won like they were all in the back and one of the boys at the end He gave this big speech and it was just like it was very cool like they actually cared about it and um there were times when like we lost before that and we would go watch them and like Be cheering them on in the back with all the parents and so it was a very I think very supportive for both of us And it was good. That's good pound counterparts right there. That's what I call teamwork But yeah, obviously season starts in two weeks Officially, that's your first meet. Yeah and stuff like that.
So how have you you know How have you how have you best prepared yourself for you know this next season? And what do you think you can take from last season and um do even better in this season? Um, well like we've all been bowling all summer together and different things and um all working on our games keep trying to improve And I think all of ours a lot of the big big thing for me personally is mentally like just being mentally prepared Like it's a grueling season and you have to like you know You have to know there's gonna be times when like you're struggling a little bit more than others And you have to just take that for what it is and know that you can come back And I think that's a big thing for me is like remembering that um and keeping that in mind so that I don't it doesn't hit me harder and faster than it should Yeah, I agree and it's um like mental health has definitely become a big topic in sports in recent years and it's it's becoming more vital than ever And um I can tell you that it's um I've seen athletes that have like really really gone past their limits And it was like, oh man something something's got to happen to you know help them You know get through whatever they're going through It's very difficult when you don't know when you know there's a problem, but you don't know what the problem is and you don't know how to solve it So it's like that that stuff is really really crucial in um I agree when you're going through a seven month season while doing school Yeah, I've never done that before but I could I'm already I already have my blood boiling just doing school some times that if I had to do a sport Day in night in night out. Oh, man.
Um, so yeah again props to you props to all of you for being able to do that That is something truly amazing. Um, but speaking of school, uh, you are not here just a bowl But you are also here in the pursuit of elementary education if I'm not mistaken So why elementary education? I have always wanted to be a teacher. It's been like the one thing like I would say probably like the third grade I was like playing either like being a teacher pretending to be a teacher A little kid or like just being around like I loved being around kids growing up and having that influence I had a lot of camp counseling and stuff like that and my fifth grade teacher was like a big influence She completely just solidified the fact that this is what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life And I just I love everything about being able to like help kids seeing them improve like seeing them understand things like Even just from camp counseling you see that and I think it's such a cool thing to have that as a teacher too So with that being said, what do you think makes a good teacher?
Like what do you think when you think of a of a teacher that makes an impact someone that is like not just a great, you know, teacher But also a great role model. What do what characteristics do you think of? Um, definitely someone who cares like about all her kids and Cares about seeing them succeed and improve and I think just having that like a relation a good relationship building up a relationship Because it takes time but there's definitely teachers that I had that were able to do that and connect with their kids And then there were teachers that were just did not have that and I think having an influence like that being able to make things fun Make learning fun while also still um Improving is like a big thing that it's really important as a teacher You have to be able to balance that enough to be able to connect with them and have that influence Yeah, I asked that question because I was literally in the library group rooms, right? And this one girl was in there and I said, you know, I'm like, I'm bored.
I'll just walk in there What's up? She proceeded to ask me what makes a great teacher? What do you think makes a great teacher? And I named the bunch of characteristics and stuff and I was like, huh?
That's a it's an interesting question. I mean, I'm the blue. I mean, I'm not an elementary education major anything I'm a communication major, but I mean to go hand in hand sometimes But I'm like that's an interesting question and I was like, I might have to ask that to someone You know get that little reverse going a little bit. Um, so yeah, um, I I agree because like I really think you know Teachers caring is one of the biggest characteristics like they got to care.
You can tell when people don't yeah You can definitely tell like it's it's become so noticeable. Um, like I mean, obviously pandemic made really made really really really Questioning. Okay, how much do I really care about this? And I kid you not like half the teachers that I knew in high school They retired either the year of the pandemic or the year I graduated and I was like whoa, yeah I mean, I came back my sister goes there now.
Jesus. I go back. I'm like, who are these teachers? What is this staff like they I mean, I kid you not principal was gone super intended was gone like brian was gone Um football coach was gone.
I was like whoa So yeah, they cleaned that they cleaned the house. I guess they were just like, oh, no, I'm not doing this anymore fam But uh, yeah, that is that is what it is. So when you actually um say you you actually become a teacher What do you think um, what do you what are your goals when it comes to you know, your desired profession? Um, I think having that influence and being the person who makes your students understand things or even just influence That on what they want to do with their lives Like if I can be the person who like my fifth grade teacher was that like solidifies what they want to do that they want to either teach or They want to do podcasts like this kind of thing like whatever it is I want to have that influence and have that impact that makes them love what they're doing Yeah, that that that right there hit home.
Oh, man I remember I remember thinking about that. I was just like like I remember um one of my um, I forgive which teacher I'm referring to but I've had I've had teachers those teachers that are just like They're more than teachers and it's like I feel I almost feel like some teachers have that goal of you know I I want to I want to make sure that these kids are really going to you know grow up and be great people And it's like some teachers really emphasize that there's a balance in life and it's like it's more than just academics like Yeah, some teachers go above and beyond and teach you a little little life lessons little morals and it's like oh like I've learned some of those and I was like it's very useful. It turned my life around and I was like I did not expect to turn my life around. Yeah, but it was it's like man teachers are such such an important Such important people in our in our world.
I mean, I stressed like somebody asked me Because um I mentioned earlier on our way here that I have more video games in my book bags and I do books Um, even though I'm a relatively good student like I'm talking like 3.6 dps and whatever I'm like, okay Um, they asked me do I you know something I remember being asked do I take my education seriously? I'm like well I mean I do but at the same time, it's like I have a balance like I have goals that I um other goals that I want to tend to like You know how like Like when you when you have like say you have two goals one goal You're already accomplishing and the other you still want to accomplish I wouldn't it sound reasonable if you poured some of the effort that you would have been taken Put would have been put into the goal that you already accomplished and like transform transplanting it to The goal that you still want to accomplish. Yeah, so it was like yeah, I like I'm a good student at all But it's like I can sacrifice I have a point off my GPA to be a happier person for sure Definitely. I mean not saying that I would intentionally like get a bad grade or anything But it's like I can you know, I feel very comfortable with like I have perks in this place I'd rather be a very very happy person with a 3.5 GPA than have a 4.0 and be the most miserable person on the planet I mean both are still good grades.
I mean 4.0 is great Greater than 3.5 but at the same time it's like there's there's a lot of there's more nuanced than just numbers Which is something that a lot of people have stressed over the years It's more nuanced than just numbers and letters on report card You know, it's like there's a story behind those letters and those report and those numbers And it's like you know a lot of people have come to understand that and that's something that I've been you know Trying to make people notice like like just because you get good grades doesn't mean that you know You're either going to be the you know, you're all you are as a student, you know, you're just a robot student That's just all academics know life and it's like There's just there's just there's just a balance, you know And I really do think that that teachers play a big part in that and I see that you you know want to have a very similar impact to it So I I'll just say go for it Just we could definitely use it especially There's a lot of job openings with these people all these people retiring and and like leaving their schools and all this and that I just told you have my like a lot of people from my school left I'm not saying go go teach them all the moderate But there's gonna be a lot of a lot of opportunities. I'm sure that at least from from the outside looking in But yeah Hobbies hobbies hobbies hobbies. Do you think you have any outside of bowling? Um, I love reading like reading is one of my favorite things.
Um, I listen to a lot of music and I definitely watch a lot of tv So yeah, so what type of books do you like to read romance? See I called it. I knew this was gonna be I knew this was gonna be good. So What exactly strikes you about romance is it like like is it like certain drama that gets you?
It's okay. Like obviously they all everything yeah, there's always drama in romance books, but I think it's like You want it so bad like some of the things you want so badly and like just reading about it You're like it makes you like upset or like happy gives you so many emotions And I don't know I just love it like it's so it's so entertaining and like it's a big thing with my friend And I will send each other books of like what we just read or what she just read and the other one should read it because you know They'll love it like it's a big thing. Yeah, I kid you not last week. I was um reading a webcam that called not even bones And it's about these I mean this is this is a very unconventional.
It's not even romance It's like thriller. It's like like real drama thriller. It's a very very violent comic To say the least um it's like the two main characters are like killers. They're like monsters or whatever that look like really look like humans But they're monsters and they have some really uh inhumane intentions sometimes, but they still have like a human side to them Somewhat I kid you not like one of the main characters um She was about to use about to get murdered or whatever and the other main character came in And his um his father was about to kill the main character and I was like whoa that is uh that is very climactic So the main character ended up like snapping his conchle father's neck And I was like whoa, it was like I'm teaching out this episode was so crazy and it was like so murdered his father or whatever And he's like what have I done?
What have I done and the other main character she's trying to persuade him like look It's okay. He was a very he was a very bad person. He was very villainous even though she's a very very very villain herself because everybody's out to kill everybody and I'm just like whoa this is a power trip. Yeah, and then Um, they you know She was trying to she was calling him down and whatnot and they kept getting closer and closer to each panel And I'm like whoa I was happening here and then they put on four heads and what I said no way I'm like and then I scroll down.
I see a reflection. It was blood on the ground But I look I scroll down. I look close in the reflection. I'm like what is that?
It was the two main characters kiss. I said I was like whoa I was not expecting that at all because I was reading comics comments after like every episode to see whatever people were thinking And apparently there was a book that was that the comic was um basically in tributive writing too So I'm thinking oh, this is a another rendition of another story that's already finished The people were talking all this stuff about how the main characters are just friends and they're not they're not romantically charged or mentally interested in each other I was I read the comment. It was like 50 episodes ago that they was talking to all these crap. I'm like, oh man I'm like man.
They would be such a good couple even though they're two very very horrible people I'm like, I just want to see it just to see it and then I saw it I didn't I see it coming it was the most unexpected kissing I've ever seen in any any type of production any type of comic any type of show I was like I was I was in my bed. I just I like I just got like I just got lightning struck or something. I was like well, so yeah, I completely understand where you're coming from with the romance Enough of me. What do you think are some of your favorite moments that you've read or you experienced in a book?
Well, one of a book I was just reading like the best part and I was talking about my friend about this because I was like The moment when people like realize they're in love with each other and then like half the time It's like they admit it when they're fighting like it's just it's so great And it's like so depressing because it's like they just admitted they love each other But they're also fighting and then it's like both of them are shocked because like they can't believe they admitted it But like that's such a good moment like I love it and we were talking about it and she was she like agreed with me. It was so funny It really is like like I said, it's like it's so unconventional how it happens sometimes It's like it never goes according to plan. It just does not there's always something that happens Yeah, and that's really it right the mystery and it's like wow, it's like how's it gonna happen more importantly? When is it gonna happen because the when part I kid you not that that that one hit me out of nowhere It's like it's like it comes it can come like during a picnic a little romantic picnic It can come while you just while one man character just snapped his father's neck The kissing scene in the reflection of blood.
Yeah, it's like you just never know when you're gonna get it But when you do get it, oh man, and I of course the combat comment section went bonkers And it was it was so glorious, but yeah romance is definitely at the top at least near at the top It's it's just it's just a complete package. Yeah, it feels like There like it feels like romance is like a main category and trauma and thriller is like subcategories of romance It's always romance always has other stuff with it. I feel like it's always like it's a focal point in any type of genre And even if characters don't end up getting together anything like that Just the just the thought of like shipping characters and stuff like that people do a lot. Yes, and it sure is fun Especially when it's like I mean, I don't know if I'll say fun because some people can take it way far But then they need to but when it's like a love triangle And they ship one main character with the other main character and it's like different combinations like no I ship these two.
No, I ship these to what I'm wrecking your ship and it was it's it's glorious to see but I mean It really is fun. Um, so yeah reading is um, I love reading on my own terms Um like my favorite book that I've ever read it was big Nate You know, it was like I was like third grade ish or great ish and it was a book that really got me through like grade school Was a smile with a price smile on my face because my man's Nate was like was young like me young little second grade four grader Ish like me and I'm like, okay. This is a really goes through like the wacky is the adventures like and it's like it's realistic too It's not like he's like a superhuman or he's like a like superhero thing It's literally about a normal kid living a normal life with the wacky is events people saying the craziest things to him Just an adventure every single day. I'm like, this is awesome This is actually awesome.
It was like a comic book and they just made a series off of it on perema plus I see it Oh, oh my child, but oh there my heart was booming after that announcement. Um, but but yeah, um That please write in television. So yeah, on top of that reading on top of books television is on your list of hives too, huh? So what type of television do you like to watch?
Well, no, I was gonna say I like a lot of like Um, I watched a lot of like mystery shows like that's a thing my mom and I've always done Um, one of my favorite shows is psych. I don't know if you've ever seen it, but that's a good show Um, I'm a big I think I'm a little bit more of a movie person sometimes than tv shows like I love all the Marvel movies You know all of them um so big marble person. Oh, um, are you a dc? No, I'm just kidding Because the running the joke about me is that my name is jonkam.
Yeah, and it's like it's literally the city from Batman Just take the g out of it and put it in a chain. Yeah, so it's like I'm automatically intertwined with dc Just because of my name and I get so many Batman references. Oh, like the place that we are right now people literally call this the jot cave Not just because I'm in it the I mean it more than everybody else can find but just because my name is jonkam. Yeah, that's that's funny I like that it really is.
I mean it is it helps a lot too because it's like a lot of people struggle with my name a lot of people even though and after you can relate to this it's a six letter name Yeah, it is a six letter name. I get a lot of Jonathan I don't know why I don't know how you look at a piece of paper and it's more so teachers than it is my peers my students Look at a piece of paper. You see jot ham You say Jonathan and I'm just like What there's no ends of my name until you get to my middle name like come on man This is crazy how often I get called jot. I mean I'll never I'll never ever forget being called jot ham I'll never forget you know, ham.
That sounds like a slogan of food company would use me to have product like don't get some pizza rolls Yo, ham like I'm like no like I keep you not my jib teacher was reading off names Stephanie here so and so here Yo, ham And I knew she was taught she was the reference to me because the names before me last name h Yeah, and I'm like, okay. She's approaching the eyes. I'm like as soon as I saw her give that extra look I was like she struggled with my name. I'm like, it's okay.
I can take a Jonathan. She said your hum and I was like I was like ain't no way you just called me your hum. I said excuse me, man. Is that name spell jot ham?
She's like yes, I said that is pronounced chafam. You know like your thumb You know like I see from Batman just just put the G output in the J like oh, oh, jot ham Jot jot jot jot jot jot jot jot jot jot jot. I'm like jot ham jot ham Jot ham Ever since then that's because my catchphrase my ears to come every time I introduce myself to somebody I'm jot ham you know like a thumb like that see from Batman's I say every single time because it's just becomes so common Yeah, um, that's like me calling you Manika Like it's like yeah, now of course Monica's more common name the jot ham is but so That miss realization would be absolutely preposterous, but um still it's like the the fame is enough but the fame of the the the The Gotham City jot ham city That's I mean that's a nickname too. So yeah, so that's like it's also crazy because people ask me Can I get something else?
I'm like first of all it's two syllables and then I'm like, okay. Well, what else do you want to call me? Can I call you Joe? No, no, don't call me Joe like come on.
No disrespect to my Joe's out there No disrespect, but it's like My name is my name is simple enough to pronounce it's two syllables and even if you were to go reach for a nickname jot ham city That's twice the amount of syllables. Yeah, it's like oh Jeez, but no enough ranting about my my unbelievably difficult to pronounce name Um, I could easily become an actor if I wanted to like I like I like movies and television that much too. Yeah I feel like even though it's not my primary choice for a career. Yeah, it's like the charisma I feel like you know all all I need for acting is like a lot of charisma and I have a lot of charisma The the can't be afraid to talk obviously.
Yeah, I'm not afraid of cameras clearly not afraid of microphones Um, and it's it's a lot of fun to play out a lot of different things like sometimes I would do script writing for fun Uh-huh. Um, I'm even writing a book. Oh, that's so cool. Um, it's um, it's um, it's like I've gotten a little bit a little bit more invested into the Like filming media industry or whatever and stuff like that, which is why I picked up my film media studies minor It's also is a steal of a minor because it's all about comp classes plus this one film analysis class So it's like I'd be an idiot not to pick up a minor.
Yeah, um, but yeah, um, I I would love I would love to become an actor one day So cool, right? I feel like it's something like it's so you get to like play pretend every day. Basically. Yeah, that's so cool It'd be so fun like can you imagine like like being in a bowling like a bowling sitcom or something?
Yeah, or even because I were even a bowling anime or something a bowling. Yeah bowling like any like any type of tv show It could be an anime could be a sitcom could be a straight comedy Oh my goodness, even if it's just a scene in the bowling alley. Yeah, and it's not like directly um related to bowling It's like just playing pretend. It's like it's something there's something about it.
That's just like so fun. Yes for sure Like Like for me, it's like angry joplimism. Like it's like a meme Like I don't get like I don't get the theme is I don't get angry often But it's like what if I were angry like people don't see me frown that often Yeah, like if I were to like pretend to tee off or somebody like bro, what is wrong with you man? That was a foul foul Like a lot of people just don't see me make those faces.
Yeah, and it's like Just see if they were to see that on the screen. I'm sure they would they would fall out their chairs Yeah, um like like can you imagine like being angry like pretending to be angry? Yeah I feel like it's it's funny because a lot of times like when yeah, you be right You don't have it seen someone act like that and then you see it. You're like whoa, okay Like oh my goodness.
I hope I don't ever have the witness this side in real life. Yeah for sure for sure Oh man, but um, yeah, that that is that is a lot of fun It's like it's great to be versatile too like commercials and stuff like um I have an assignment in my class where I have to write a sweet bird Put it on radio. It's like it's like a promotion Um, I gotta look for actors or whatever people to just say a couple lines and stuff. So that that'll be fun.
Yeah, um, it's uh I'm not pleased to class. I'm a boss. He just uh, uh, but yeah, um, it's it's very fun to be versatile It was very fun. You know, there's nothing wrong with goofing off a little bit sometimes, you know, it's uh, it's uh, it brings out the character in us Um, but uh, yeah, I do have one last question for you though.
Um, and then this might be a very difficult question What do you think is your favorite memory when you when you were bowling? Oh, wow Um, I would definitely say there's been some good like high school memories and stuff Um, state was like always fun going to state. I think one of my favorite memories was honestly probably Take your time Um, nat probably nationals like um when we bowled the team championships last year at an april in adison Um, we had done okay. We were keeping it in like the like we were in the cotton everything and we were doing good Um, and it's that has like everybody from na and cba all types of like schools So it's that one's the biggest and probably one of the most challenging tournaments that we have and we were one of four Naia teams to make it like what you were the only for to make it and so I think that was really cool But then um we had made it to the second day and we were bowling against mccendry which both of us It was like a double elimination and both of us were on like our last elimination and we had a bowl against each other And mccendry is coached by shannon okeif who is a pro bowler So like they have this huge reputation and um, they're just like a very good school and us competing against them like going into a We kind of were like we don't really know if we can do this and we we did lose But like the experience was that we it we went game for game And it was like just so cool to see all of us like really put our minds to it And like just having that experience of meeting like one of the top teams like it had happened a couple times throughout the year And it's just like it really shows that like you can do it even even though we lost like they had there were breaks that they had that like If they didn't have them we could have won like it came down to like just making good shots and we were able to do that and They just beat us they made a few better shots But like it was just cool to see us all come together and be able to actually put up a run against one of the top teams in like the country Yeah, speaking of runs.
Um, if i'm not mistaken the itc's um you guys were like the 13 seat And it was he was either that or the nia nationals. Um, but it was you guys upset st mary's Yeah, that was itc's I think so that that was it's it always feels good to pull off an upset right? Yes for sure that happened in vegas too that we beat Wichita in one of them in one of the games and like they were the top See they're one of the best teams in the country and it was like that was so cool. Wait you guys went to vegas?
Yeah, we go to vegas every December That's built Oh, oh my gosh. What in the world is that like I know you travel a lot but vegas? Yeah, that one was really cool because um only two of the girls on our team last year had even gone like before So most of us hadn't gone. We didn't get to travel or we refreshment that didn't experience it and So like being able to go like we all did stuff together We we saw everything because and we both at night So like the boys will in the morning we will at night so we get to go and like the boys have the night We have the whole morning to do stuff and it's it was really really cool And this year if we make it to itc Itc's I think are in um vegas so we could technically go twice if we make it to that this year, which that would be cool.
Um, yeah Whoa Whoa, that's that that'd be dove. That's double. Well, yeah But yeah, that was a obviously very good. That was a good selection.
That was a good that was a good memory I'd have to say my favorite bowling memory. Um, obviously it's only casual. I have a bowling team Um, it was my 16th birthday Um for whatever reason my mom decided to make these coordinating t-shirts Um, so there were four people in my household mother father's sister and me and my mom had numbers that were like relating to my birthday Someone wore old one january someone wore 11 to the birthdays someone wore old three my birth year and somebody wore 16 Because I was 16 and I was like, huh, okay, and I at first I was like, why'd you get my my mom my jersey numbers 10 Why'd you get 16 because you're 16 chopped them and I want you to wear 16. I said, okay And she did it again for my sister this past year, but but when I was 16 we went, okay, bold I was next to a lane with professional bowlers And they were in the and they were in the midst of a very heated competition It was like a tournament whatever trophy y'all might want to line stuff on the line like it was serious And then you only have the hand wraps and the rest guards and the uniforms and the sleeves and all that I said Oh, no, ain't no way.
We got a lane next to these people. And so at the time I had no idea Um, how important lane courtesy was but but I gave them lane courtesy without even knowing it because I would see people just I would see our crew stop and let them bow first and then we bold. Yeah, so I didn't know what the heck was going on But I just I just followed along whatever Why in the world did my play uncle walk over to that lane right next to us? He told a woman on what that was one of the professional bowlers.
He told a woman Hey, see that guy over there? Come on to me. She's like, you like that guy can match you strike for strike and she was like, oh, really? And he was like, yeah, and she was like, well, well next turn.
Let's see a thing. I see it. Oh man And and actually no, I wasn't like, oh man because I was up the bowl and I think I definitely didn't vote strike And so I'm like, oh, no way. I go back from lane, right?
And he's like, hey, Jonathan. I said, yeah He's like, uh, I'm gonna need you to bolt strike for me and I said and keep my mind. I had not bolt strike all night It was like the sixth or seventh frame. Yeah, and I'm just like, no way you just did that She went up next turn bolt of strikes.
She gave me a death stare. She was like, you know, she's walking back and I'm looking She looked at me. I looked at my play on going like I don't want strike. I'm on your, you know what?
And so I get up there a lot of pressure, right? Yeah, and I'm like, okay I go up take a deep breath. I had realized I've been bowling way too hard Um, because I was my accuracy was off and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna try bowling a little slower because I need to get it I need to hit that front pin.
I gotta do something and I didn't know how to do a spin I don't know how to do that spin stuff just yet. Um, but I'm just like I bolded it. I was like, oh, it was like straight down the middle and I'm like, oh man. Oh, this really I feel really good and then everybody behind me is getting hype and my mom Um, she was the only one that didn't really know what was going on, but I bought a strike and I tell I was like, oh, yeah And I was like, actually, you know, I was I didn't even say oh, yeah, I was I just walked back gave that woman the same stare like Yeah, I'm like that.
Yeah, I'm like that. Oh, man. I was so I felt so cocky in that moment I was like I had a different I had a swagger. Yeah, it was like a swagger that I had to me.
It was like, yeah, yeah I did that I'm saying I did that yeah, yeah, yeah I was oh that was one of the best moments of my life. Um, because it just came out of nowhere I could easily easily have um not bolder strike. Oh, yeah, and I would have everybody would look like fools I would look like a fool playing on cool to look like a fool. Yeah, and it would have been bad.
I I thank god I did not believe that. Oh, that's so bad You've got that if I bought a gun. Oh, man. My but no my plan was deals not even my boter strike He is still not gonna hear the end of that because I could that could easily been so bad.
Um, but yeah, I was um, that was that was a great memory I also said that that was my last question. I lied. Oh, I see a wriggly shirt. Yes.
Yes. Are you a Cubs fan? Yes, I am Oh, man Yeah, this I think I might be prolonging this like an extra signal But um, uh, I like the Cubs too. Um, I'm not a Cubs fan.
I'm not a Sox fan either. I'm a Mariners fan Okay, um, and I quite literally am very excited right now because they have not been to the playoffs move over championships They have not been to the playoffs since 2001 the playoffs I wasn't even close to being a spec of science in 2001. That's how honk is Yeah, but the last time they made the playoffs neither Chicago teams won a world series in this century I'm just like oh my gosh. Uh, but but yeah, um, I'm a Mariners fan and I if the Mariners make the playoffs They currently hold a playoff spot.
Hopefully they can hang on fingers crossed Everybody's gonna see a side of me that they've never seen before I guarantee you heard here first I will I I will be popping well. I'll be popping water bottles. I'm not legally old enough to drink. Yeah, but I'll be mentally popping the champagne I'll be I'll be soberly drunk.
Yeah Soberly drunk. I'll be I'll be shotgun in water bottles But yeah, that is very exciting. Um, so we had sports and something else. That's that's good.
That's good that you have multiple sports interests Um, it's um, it's very fun to um keep up with certain things. There's a lot of trash talking especially in the city that has two baseball teams It's non-stop. It was like we're we're better now. He was like, yeah, but that was 2005, bro That's gonna do it for today's episode of the playerful files podcast I'd like to thank Monica Darrow for taking the time out of her day to stop by the radio station and come and do this interview But until next time so long everybody