Meet Melissa Sobolik

Born: August 16, 1990
Throws: Right
College: Wichita State University
Area of Study: Majors- business administration/journalism; minors- marketing, management and personal selling
High Game: 300 in practice (I got 11:30 phone call to prove it ☺) 279 (certified)
High Series: 737
Accomplishments:
• 2011 – Bowling This Month’s Survivor Tournament, fifth place
• 2010, 2011 – Coach K Three-peat Scholarship Recipient
• 2009 – Bowling This Month’s Survivor Tournament, fourth place
• 2009 – Greater Iowa Bowling Scholarship Tour (GISBT), second place
• 2009 – GISBT, third place
• 2009 – GISBT, Tournament of Champions, fourth place
• 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 – Academic All-American

This week, I decided to do an interview with a bowler, rather than share stories of my own bowling memories. Allow me to introduce Melissa Sobolik, or Blondie, as she affectionately is known by her teammates.

I met Melissa while she was a youth bowler where I coach, and she was a pretty good one. One Saturday, she asked me to help her convert from a three-step to a five-step approach. After two days of this, you would swear Melissa always had a five-step approach. From there, we developed a close coach/bowler relationship, and now, she’s just part of the family.

Before you read her questions and answers, I must stress that I purposely worded these questions to steer her away from bringing me up or giving me accolades. This was not successful, however, and I am very flattered by the words she had to say about me.

Melissa is one of my favorite people in the world, and she has taught me more than I have taught her. She is the hardest-working person I know and is an Academic All-American at Wichita State to prove it. She also trusted me to try new drills or tools when I was just diving deep into coaching. She allowed me to learn and develop my coaching style and philosophy working with her. Melissa is the reason I have a passion for coaching bowling.

1. When did you start bowling? Why?

I started bowling league when I was 7 years old, and that’s my earliest of memory of the sport. My parents signed my three sisters and me up for league, and that is what my Saturday mornings consisted of for 11 years. Bowling is a something I got the hang of very quickly. I realized there was more to learn about the sport. I have always enjoyed being unique and not following the norm, and bowling isn’t exactly a sport everyone plays. Its uniqueness kept me wanting to pursue the sport and learn more.

2. What made you stay with bowling? We seem to lose more females than males after middle school.

Bowling in league is what initially made me stay with bowling. Every Saturday for 11 years, my morning consisted of getting up and going to league. It didn’t dawn on me until I grew older that not everybody gets up on Saturday morning to bowl, and they were missing out! When I got to middle school and realized my high school had a bowling team, I was more motivated than ever to stick with the sport. I watched my older sister go to practice after school, and I couldn’t wait until it was my turn. It was an overwhelming feeling seeing so many people share the same interest in bowling that I had.

3. What is your favorite bowling memory or story?

I don’t really have one favorite memory. I would say one memory I thoroughly enjoy is when I am bowling with my teammates and everyone is lined up, having fun and scoring well. When we are all playing together in the moment and throwing every shot with our hearts, the energy is immeasurable. One of the greatest feelings I have experienced is when we play well and win as a team. Winning is so much sweeter when you have teammates to share it with.

4. What/whom is your greatest influence in bowling or life? Has something or someone in bowling shaped you as a person, but not necessarily as a bowler?

I love this question!

Hands down, my coach Andy Diercks ☺ has been the greatest influence in bowling and my life. Asking him for help one day at league has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. When it comes to bowling, he never settles for knowing and teaching the bare minimum. He is always working to expand his knowledge of the sport. Andy stays up-to-date on the latest bowling news and diligently works to provide his students with new information.

Words cannot express how much he has helped me. Without him, I never would have applied to Wichita State University. I would still be bowling in house-shot leagues and wondering how other people can bowl so well, while I lack everything. Instead, he has helped me work on my game, apply to Wichita State, become more knowledgeable and gain the confidence to explore new facets in bowling and everyday life. He is a coach who has taught me lessons beyond the sport of bowling. He not only is a great coach, he’s also a great friend, father and husband. I can only hope to some day raise a family half as cool as his.

5. Do you think bowling always will be a part of your life?

I whole-heartedly believe bowling will always be a part of my life. So far, it has been involved in 14 years of it. I am excited to see where my game takes me in the future.

6. What connects your heart to the game of bowling?

The feeling of posting a shot at the foul line and knowing as soon as it comes off my hand that it was a shot I put my heart and soul into is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Knowing I couldn’t have thrown it any better is a feeling that connects me to the game.

Bowling allows me to continue learning and growing as a person, and the fact that great shots show progress in these areas, means the world to me.

7. Why are you such a great person? (You don’t have to answer this one ☺)

I only learn from the best!! (you!) Haha!

8. How has bowling impacted or changed your life?

Where to begin?! The question should really be how hasn’t bowling impacted or changed my life!

Bowling has been more than just a part of my life. It has been a way of life. I would not be where I am today if it were not for the sport of bowling (literally). I have met people from all over the world because of the sport. It has brought amazing people into my life. I believe I am a better person because of bowling. It has made me a stronger person, mentally and physically.

This sport is the reason I am attending college more than 500 miles away from home. It has given me experiences and opportunities I never could have fathomed 14 years ago when I first began. Bowling has given me the courage to try new things and has made me realize you never stop learning. Through its highs and lows, bowling has taught me never to give up, work hard, dream big and laugh along the way.