By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – Brady Snyder is a senior at Bay Port High School who recently completed his final season on the bowling team.
Snyder, who is the son of Sara and Dan, will be bowling collegiately at Viterbo University beginning this fall.
“I’m still amazed at how many people don’t realize we have a high school bowling team at Bay Port,” said Snyder, who will study engineering in college. “It’s a great sport you can play your whole life. A little practice on your technique, consistency and footwork can improve your game lots.”
Snyder said proper technique isn’t the only thing needed.
“There is some luck involved, too,” said Snyder, who throws a 15-pound ball. “You can throw a perfect ball, do everything right and not get a strike; or, you can throw a ball you don’t think has a chance to do much and you end up getting a strike. The better you are, the more often you put yourself in the spot to get lucky.”
Snyder, whose ball cost about $180, said the closest he came to a perfect 300 game was last year when he bowled a 279.
“I had one spare in that game,” said Snyder, who averages a 206.
Snyder, who also played baseball his first three years at Bay Port and football through junior high, said he wants to change the culture of high school sports by letting others know bowling is a good opportunity for fun, travel and camaraderie.
“Improving is my main goal, but I’m also looking forward to winning tournaments with my college team,” he said. “I hope by me going to college to bowl, it triggers others in the high school to try it.”
His most memorable bowling moment came during his sophomore year when his team bowled a perfect game.
“That was pretty special,” he said. “As for something embarrassing, I’ve hit my ankle with a ball on a shot and gotten my thumb stuck in the holes.”
Snyder’s hobbies include hunting, fishing drawing and watching sports.
“I’m a huge Packers, Bucks and Brewers fan,” said Snyder, who describes himself as dedicated, caring and empathetic. “During the summer, you can find me fishing almost every day of the week. In the fall, I get up early for hunting and go all day.”
Snyder has two younger brothers, Boston and Bennett, and two younger sisters, Kallie and Bailey.
Boston plays baseball, while Kallie is into softball, basketball and bowling.
His mom graduated from Bay Port and participated in softball and cheer, while his dad is from Florence, Wisconsin, and played football and baseball.
Snyder, who said he will miss his friends and teachers after he graduates, also likes venison, Snapchat, blue moon ice cream, Long Lake near Florence and Thanksgiving.