KENNEWICK — Kennewick High School junior Karissa Shiflet is an ambitious young woman.
She is author of several well-received social observation articles for the school newspaper, Lions Roar, and she is taking the required steps towards a future in pharmacology with special attention on succeeding in International Baccalaureate classes, which provide the requisite foundation towards a career choice in the medical field.
But when it is just her, a Storm Prodigy bowling ball in her hands, and the 10 taunting pins in the daunting distance, Shiflet enters another zone altogether
"I really enjoy bowling," Shiflet said. "It is a mental game, and also really fun. It helps me stay calm, and helps me with more than just sports."
She acquiesces that bowling is not going to hit a target heart rate or work the core, but says that the sport has long-term academic value.
"You don't stay fit bowling, but take stuff from bowling, and take it into school. Whenever I have a lot of homework, or a big test, it helps me stay calm."
And with a 3.6 GPA alongside international baccalaureate (IB) courses in Spanish, literature, pre-calculus, chemistry and history -- with a bull's-eye painted on biology next -- you would be hard pressed to proffer a convincing argument against the fact that bowling grants its practitioners an intensified focus.
But that's not all. As a three-sport athlete (soccer, bowling, softball) Shiflet has learned much in how to deal with people and situations.
"It helps me improve my social skills," she said of her team sports experiences. "It's easier to get along with girls and take a leadership position, know what to say.
"I'm the type of person who pleases everyone. If somebody is down, I want to cheer them up."
It's that empathy that has fueled her attitude on sportsmanship.
"I don't get mad if somebody out-bowls me," she said. "They've had a good game."
Reaching that level of zen didn't happen overnight for Shiflet as she began her career thrust into the varsity limelight. The team dynamic at the time left her feeling isolated, like the far pin in a 6-7-10 split.
"When I came in as a freshman, it was hard for me," she said. "Two seniors and two juniors on varsity, and I was the outcast. I liked being able to out-bowl them and shove it in their faces, because they thought they were so much better."
Shiflet credits head coach Oscar Garnica and assistant coach Tom Richardson with having her back throughout her prep career.
"My coaches, they're the kind of guys that want what is best for you," she said. "To be the best you can possibly be."
Shiflet acknowledged that Garnica and Richardson put a lot of hours into researching advances in bowling technique and technology to boost the team's overall performance.
"I wouldn't be where I am right now without my coaches," she said. "They're my heart and soul out there.
Garnica is pleased with Shiflet's emerging role as leader of the Kennewick varsity core: seniors Megan Weir and Blair Westerman, and juniors Xochtli Garcia and Danielle Gonzales.
"She has, tremendously, learned the game, and I see her averaging 200 this year," Garnica said of Shiflet. "She has listened to us and learned to read the lanes. She's the anchor, and that speaks volumes. ... This year she's come back much stronger."
She's hovering above 200 so far, through four strong contests into the CWL 3A/2A season. She also has a high game of 237 -- earned Nov. 10 on the road against West Valley at Nob Hill Lanes -- and a 202.875 scratch game average.
Shiflet bowls in a junior league and also with her parents Vince and Kay Shiflet. The family bowling came about as a way to carve a little quality family time out of Karissa's busy schedule which also includes playing short stop for the Washington Mustangs, an 18U ASA/NSA softball team based in Wenatchee.
Kay acknowledged that Karissa's bowling is firing on all cylinders.
"She's just focused this year," Kay said. "I don't know what happened. It's very impressive for a girl her age."
Vince said that he and Kay make almost every game and encourage and support their daughter to the fullest.
"We go to every game, we don't miss anything," he said. "We've maybe missed Moses Lake, because it's at noon, otherwise we don't miss anything she does. We've made every game, we support her 100 percent."
And Vince said he hopes to see Karissa out there giving her own 100 percent.
"When you set your goal you do it," he said. "We've never let any of our kids quit anything. If you're going to do it, stick with it all the way through."
