By DAVID GREEN 

A varsity letter for bowling? Are you kidding?

No, it’s not a joke. It might sound strange at first, but bowling offers the opportunity to show off a skill in competition as surely as a race or a jump or the swing of a golf club.

Bowling is an official varsity sport in Michigan, sanctioned by the state’s high school athletic association. Competition exists from the local level all the way to a state tournament.

So why does it sound so odd? Probably because it doesn’t take what’s typically considered an athlete to excel at the sport. Sure, there are plenty of bowlers who can play football or softball, but there are also many good bowlers who would never succeed on the basketball court or the wrestling mat.

This is the very thing that many school administrators love about adding this sport to their lineup of athletic offerings. It’s bound to draw students who otherwise wouldn’t be competing, and maybe attract some students who might not be doing much of anything outside of school.

Teachers know that students who are involved in extracurricular activities often give a better showing in the classroom. For some students, participation serves as an incentive to get good grades. For others, it’s just part of a well-rounded school experience in which involvement and success in one area lead to success in another.

The Morenci school district is certainly not in the position to pay the cost of a new sport, but in this case that won’t be necessary. Organizers of the new bowling club have vowed to raise funds on their own to cover all costs.

What will happen after three years when the club turns into an official varsity sport in Morenci? That remains to be seen. Perhaps improved economic conditions will again boost school funding. Maybe bowling will have to remain at the club level for longer if the district is unable to support it.

That’s a decision for board members to make down the road. For now, let’s welcome the involvement of some new athletes and let the pins fly.