Placing third in regionals on the bowling team last winter and going to state finals in 2022, Courtney Delaney is a face high schoolers will recognize around the bowling lanes of West Michigan.
She hopes to continue the team’s winning record at Northview.
Delaney is a captain and senior on the Varsity bowling team. She is one of the few people that went to states, placing 20 in 2021.
She has been on the bowling team since freshman year, but she was taught how to bowl since she was four years old and loved it ever since.
“Both of my parents bowl, so I’ve been doing league at Westgate since then,” Delaney said. “I started doing high school bowling when it became an option. I started doing it because my parents started to do it, and I grew to love it, so now I do it for myself.”
Delaney didn’t take bowling seriously until her freshman year of high school. When she placed nine in regionals that year, she realized she could be successful and continue to improve.
“My freshman year is the reason I’m at the place I am today,” Delaney said. “I was even going to do bowling, but then I came out in the top 10 at regionals and I realized it was the right decision to keep doing it.”
Once Delaney started putting more time into bowling, she started practicing four to five days every single week, and this year colleges started to notice. University of Michigan-Dearborn recognized her skill set and wanted her on their team. In the process of committing, Delaney is really excited to see where this takes her in life.
“The Northview bowling program has given me so many opportunities of going to college and bowling at the next level,” Delaney said. “I can’t thank the people on my team and coaches enough for helping me every step of the way.”
Delaney has been a leader and inspiration to other girls on the team. Junior Kelly Hartman looked up to Delaney since freshman year.
“Delaney literally and figuratively is our anchor on the team. She always has such an impact on our morale,” Hartman said. “When I need help she’s always there to give advice and fix my technique. She is always consistent and does amazing things.”
Teammate and senior co-captain Erin Fennama is very proud of how far Delaney has come in her bowling career.
“Courtney makes me a better bowler but provides healthy competition,” Fennama said. “ I am proud of what she has accomplished.”
Delaney has created a legacy for Northview athletics.
“It takes time and dedication to succeed, because it is a lot of mental focus,” Delaney said “It’s not just something you can just pick up and immediately be good at, because it took me a long time to get to the point where I am.”
