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HIGH POINT — Southwest High School students Andre Elliott and Cory Payne already bowl at Tar Heel Lanes every Saturday and at least once a week as part of a youth league. Yet they couldn’t pass up another opportunity to perfect their technique.

On Tuesday, the two students and about 20 of their peers bowled their first practice game at the North Main Street center. Fifteen Guilford County high schools started the clubs this fall after the district formed a partnership with five bowling centers in Greensboro and High Point.

“I’m just in it for the fun and also for getting the top score,” Elliott, a junior, said.

More than 500 students signed up to participate in the clubs. They will practice at the bowling centers after school every other week through February. Gate City Lanes, Tar Heel Lanes, High Point Bowling Center, Triad Lanes, and AMF All Star Lanes provide the space, equipment and coaches. The district pays for the transportation.

Members of the Board of Education hesitated to start a new program amid budget cuts, but they agreed to redirect $19,000 from their membership dues account to help cover the costs this year.

Advocates convinced the board that bowling programs could lead to college scholarship offers for skilled students and provide an alternative for those who cannot participate in other organized sports.

“I have back and leg problems, so I can’t do basketball at school,” said Katy Borum, a Southwest junior who has scoliosis. “It feels really good to be involved in a sport through school.”

Borum said some students laughed when they heard the school might start a bowling club.

“There were some who made fun of it,” Borum said. “At first they thought it was a joke, but then they showed up (to participate).”

In a March survey asking more than 6,000 Guilford County middle and high school students what sports they like to participate in, bowling rated seventh of 21 sports, ahead of track and field, lacrosse and baseball.

“The response was unbelievable,” said Cheryl Dillard, general manager of Gate City Lanes in Greensboro. “They’ve been telling us for so many years that there’s no interest.”

Bowling advocates hope to expand the clubs to the middle schools and start varsity bowling leagues that can compete against other schools. More than 50,000 students in 25 states compete on high school bowling teams across the country, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

“This is going to be a very important year for us because this will make the difference in terms of whether this continues or not,” said Dale Kelly, the bowling clubs coordinator.

“There’s lots of people who can’t send their kids to (college) because they don’t have the money. But their kids love to bowl.”

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com