It's a chance to play for free. It's a time to hang with friends. It's a break from school work. It's Auburn University Intramural Bowling. Although 31 teams compete throughout the weeks, Monday night's intramural bowling game consisted mostly of fraternities and some independent guy groups. With the smell of used shoes and nachos filling the air, the student teams gathered at Auburn lanes around 4:30 p.m. and started their games to compete for the highest score.
Not only that, but a member of the Purple Puthons, Michael Nunnally, sophomore in chemical engineering, said it gives them an opportunity to be active, play sports with friends and fellowship.
Another Purple Puthons teammate, Tyler Dalton, sophomore in pre-pharmacy, agreed.
"It brings people together who aren't normally together," Dalton said. "Greeks and non-Greeks."
Dalton said he is currently taking a bowling class as an elective and believes it has helped improve his game.
With only four people to a team, some members bring along others to cheer them on.
Taylor Starer, freshman in pre-vet, said she came to support her friend.
"I just watch," Starer said. "I'm awful." However, even though she may not feel like she can bowl, Starer said she might play in the future. Starrer also said it's a great way to keep the Greek community connected. Not only does the Greek community benefit from staying connected and socializing, but fraternities and sororities build up spirit points by participating in activities such as intramural sports. George Turner, junior in bio-systems engineering and a member of the Phi Kappa Tau team, said not only do they like to bowl, but they also do it for spirit points.
"More spirit points, better football seats you get," Turner said.
Turner said his team is pretty serious when it comes to bowling, but they are still working on their skills. His teammate, Matt
Smith, senior in finance, said he does well occasionally, but "it depends on the day."
Turner said their team practices at least one time a week; however, some teams just play for the fun.
Taylor Wallace, sophomore in public administration, a member of the Purple Puthons, said they don't practice, but it is still something fun to do on Monday evenings.
"We just kind of show up and bowl," Wallace said.
Nevertheless, each week each team plays one game, and at the end of four weeks, the team with the highest cumulative score wins.
After all the teams left for the evening, piles of used shoes were left on the counter, doused with Lysol, and the final scores were tallied. In the end, Monday night's win went to Delta Sigma Pi with a cumulative team score of 609.
But whether the teams were there to win or just to have fun, it was an opportunity to play sports and connect with one another.
According to Purple Puthons teammate, Dalton, it's a "free opportunity to bowl with friends."
Also, to answer any questions concerning the name of the Purple Puthons, Wallace said they were going to be the Purple Pythons, but the people who entered their name misread it.
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