Free bowling program at Fort Myers HeadPinz builds skills beyond the lanes

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A free summer bowling program at HeadPinz is giving local kids a chance to discover a sport they never knew they loved.

When 14-year-old Isabela Baez first came to HeadPinz, she didn't want to be there. She preferred softball and dreaded each visit to the bowling alley.

"Every day I would go, I would be like, ugh, dreading. I didn't want to go because I liked softball," Baez said.

But after a little coaching and a lot of practice, something clicked for her. The game started to make sense, and the frustration turned into fun.

"Once you understand how to play, it's just a lot more fun," Baez said.

This summer, that fun has turned into confidence for Baez. She's learned the technical side of the sport, from footwork to ball weight.

"I sort of know where to step, how many steps it takes me to get to where I have to go and what weight ball I'm using," Baez said.

WINK Sports Reporter Lauren Halpern tried her hand at bowling to see if she could figure it out, too. But the kids say there's more to bowling than just knocking down pins.

"It's very, very fun, and also, you're not supposed to complain a lot," said 11-year-old bowler Mason McGarvey.

McGarvey says learning to control his frustration on the lanes has helped him control his feelings off them. The mental discipline required in bowling has carried over into other parts of his life.

"Helps me control my feelings and all that," McGarvey said.

That's exactly what HeadPinz hopes to build—more than just bowlers. The program focuses on personal development alongside athletic skill.

"It's growing the sport of bowling. It's obviously our number one priority. We want to get more people into the sport. We want to get them, you know, out of the house and get them doing something and making friends and creating memories," said Jacob Elliott, director of marketing and training at HeadPinz.

The summer program has about three weeks left, but Elliott says its youth league will continue throughout the year. Kids looking to stay active and build new skills will have the opportunity to keep bowling long after summer ends.