Ascension Academy's John Luke Green looks to repeat as state bowling champion
In 1966, Bill Russell went from star of the Boston Celtics to player-coach. In 2001, Michael Jordan came out of retirement to fill a front office-player role for the Washington Wizards.
John Luke Green can't officially call himself player-coach, but he is player-team founder for the Ascension Academy bowling team.
And he's only in high school.
Green is a senior at Ascension Academy and the defending individual state champion in bowling.
This year, the Ascension Academy team is also competing in the state tournament for the first time ever while Luke attempts to repeat as individual champion.
Not bad for a team that didn't even exist until three years ago. How did it all come together?
“It’s a bit selfish, but I was looking to get it started for myself," Green said. "I wanted to pursue action in singles. But I also wanted to get kids more involved in the sport of bowling. ... It started with a signup sheet and a few announcements. We were just hoping to make a team.”
Green fell in love with bowling when he was 10 years old. His parents signed him up for a month-long summer course at Amarillo College. His freshman year, he got the signup sheet started with humble goals.
"I had two goals," Green said. "One was to build a team that would last all four years I’d be here and two was to make it to regionals once. I think we’re going to surpass both of those goals.”
Surpass indeed. The team made regionals last year and is now competing in state while Green will look to repeat as individual champ. The team has built up enough members that it should continue after he graduates in May.
Green also acts as an unofficial player-coach. Though ineligible to fill the position officially, he spreads the ins and outs of the game to the other kids while helping guide them in their growth. Now, he's guided them to state.
Green plans on pursuing bowling professionally when he finishes high school. Before that, he's got one last run in him this weekend in San Antonio. Green said it would be nice to take home the gold again on his own and to do so with his team.
Nice, but not the end all be all. He's already taken care of that.
“At this point it’s just icing on the cake," Green said. "I’ve personally reached all of the goals that I’ve wanted to. I’m just personally happy to be where I’m at. Whatever the outcome is, I’m proud no matter what.”
The competition will be held Saturday and Sunday at Bandera Bowling Center. Team competition starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with individual competition starting 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: John Luke Green looks to repeat as state bowling champion
