Bowling One-On-One with Haley Swindle: 17 Year Old PWBA Regional Champion
In early November of 2023, I pulled up BowlTV and streamed the stepladder finals of the 2023 PWBA Northern Colorado Regional at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado. The contenders included high-level bowlers in Senior Team USA member Sharon Powers, Junior Team USA’s Avery Domaguin and PWBA member Giselle Poss. And in the final spot, fourth seed 17-year-old high schooler Haley Swindle from Sharpsburg, Georgia.
I thought this would be interesting to watch and it sure was. Haley was composed, disciplined, and determined and would end up running the ladder and defeated Giselle Poss 223-167 in the finals to win her first PWBA Regional title in her first TV appearance. So impressive. I was fortunate to catch up with Haley and I asked her about this great accomplishment and about her bowling journey.
Please share about how your bowling journey began and how it brought you to where you are today?
“When I met my stepdad, he was bowling in a Wednesday night league, so I had been around it for a couple of years before I started, but never really thought it was something I wanted to do. I was invested in other sports like softball, volleyball, gymnastics, etc. A couple years later when I was 11, I saw a flyer for the youth league in my home bowling alley, I asked my stepdad if I could join and he said of course, so we got a ball and some shoes and got to work.”
“After bowling league for a season, I wanted to try competing. It was during one of my first few tournaments that my current coach saw me and recruited me for the GA Allstars team. Eventually, he became my personal coach. I really fell in love with the sport due to the fact that it was so unique. I have played many “traditional” sports, but bowling was the one that really grabbed my attention. I loved the fact that it could either be an individual sport or a team sport. As well as, earning scholarship money from tournaments and potentially competing in college!”
Talk about how your game developed between first starting to bowl in league at 11 years old and winning your first PWBA regional title at 17. That’s not a lot of time there to develop your game like you have without some serious work being put in. Talk about the development and about some of the challenges during this stage, which ultimately has prepared you to win your first PWBA title.
“I feel like my game has come such a long way in a very short amount of time. My coach, Walt Alexander, started working with me at 12 years old. I felt like I picked up on the things he was teaching me very fast. Also, my stepdad, Karl Scott, would practice with me and helped implement everything Walt was teaching us. I believe that has helped me the most during these past five years and it has become my work ethic. I spend a lot of time in the bowling alley practicing, as well as doing drills at home.”
“Recently, I have just been trying to clean up some aspects in my physical game, like footwork and release. I have also made it a point to work on my mental game and that has helped me tremendously. I started working with Mike Shady last year and he has been really helping me implement the mental processes into my game. After working with him, it has brought a whole new side of competing that I have never been able to obtain, and it definitely helped me during the PWBA Colorado Regional tournament.”
First, let me say that Haley is a very determined and hard-working young lady! I’ve only seen one other person that I’ve coached that has the same drive and work ethic as Haley does. When Haley and I first started working together, she mentioned her goals and plans, big were they, and now she’s seeing those plans come to fruition. She is going to be a competitor to be reckoned with, not only in college, but also on the professional tour.
-Walt Alexander Jr USBC Silver Coach Kegel Master Coach Candidate
Secondly, Haley is a tremendously unique young lady in the world outside of the bowling center. She makes straight A’s in school, she’s a big sister to three siblings, and she’s a great help to her mom and dad and don’t say I told you, but she can juggle. Truly, she has a heart of gold! Her sisters are always wanting to come watch her bowl and compete. She always welcomes them to be at the centers when they can and has always made every effort to give them the first hugs after a competition.
I hope that Haley has learned as much from me as I have learned from her. Each individual bowler is so different and as a coach, we have to be able to spot those differences, and exploit the assets and minimize the liabilities. Haley has helped me sharpen my skills in those particular areas of coaching. I’ve been a coach for a long time and I’m always learning something from every individual that I have come in contact with. It’s so unique to see those who are willing to put in the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears, to accomplish their goals, and Haley is that person! I’m extremely proud to be Haley‘s coach, and I can only wish her the best of success in the future!
Walt Alexander Jr. and Haley Swindle
Colorado was your third PWBA Regional event that you competed in. You made a late push in match play (919 in the last four games) to make it as the fourth seed in the stepladder finals. You were facing professionally experienced bowlers and still you were able to run the ladder. In the final championship match, you faced 28-year-old former Gold medalist Giselle Poss. She was ranked #34 in the PWBA tour at that time. And here you are, a highly touted young senior bowler in High School about to battle for the championship. Talk about your experience in this tournament and working your way through the stepladder finals.
“I had previously competed in the Cleveland and Mooresville tournament. I choose to go to Colorado because it fit well in my schedule, plus I enjoy competing in the regionals because I feel like it will help better my game to be put in high level competition with many pressure situations. I really didn’t see myself ending the tournament the way I did. Being almost -100 after the fourth game, I basically told myself that I just needed to go bowl the way I know how, and to stop trying to force things to happen. After that, I just relaxed and didn’t worry about the outcome because it was going to be what it was going to be anyway.”
“After finding out I made step ladder, I was in shock! lol. Working my way through the stepladder was probably one of the hardest things I have had to do during my career. It was very mentally exhausting, and I told myself to just trust my process and don’t deviate from it. This was my first time being on ‘TV’ and so I tried my hardest to stay calm and control my breathing because I knew if I could control it, my execution would be much better. I just thought to myself that anything I do now is just a bonus from what I’ve already accomplished. I think that really helped me stay calm through the step ladder.”
“In the championship match, I started to get nervous because Giselle was on fire the entire day. I had the pleasure of bowling on her pair throughout qualifying, so I was aware of how well she was bowling on that pattern. I felt myself start to look at the score, but I was able to pull myself back into my process for the remainder of the game. This is definitely at the top of my list of accomplishments so far.”
As a top high school bowler in the nation, you recently signed your letter of intent with the University of Nebraska. You’ll be joining one of the top academic and athletic schools in the nation. The Huskers have won 11 national championships, most recently in 2021. Talk about the excitement of joining such an elite school and what this opportunity means to you?
“I am super excited to be joining the Huskers bowling program! When I first started reaching out to colleges, I actually didn’t even include Nebraska on my list even though it was my dream to bowl for their team! I really didn’t think I was good enough for them to be interested but my mom suggested I send them my video and just see what might happen. So, I reached out right before Jr. Gold with my recruitment video and shared my squad with them. Turns out they came to watch, and the rest is history!”
“Doing the PWBA tour is a dream of mine after college and the Nebraska program has turned out so many exceptional PWBA title winners! I knew that if I was going to become the best bowler I can be, this was where I needed to be. After visiting, I fell in love with the campus and felt really comfortable with the coaches. I also felt like the structure of their program was just what I needed. It means so much to me to have this opportunity, and I am truly blessed that I will be able to compete with them for the next 4 years. The talent on that team is so deep, I know it will be a grind for play time. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been competing in the PWBA regionals, to give myself as much high-level competition as I can to help prepare me for the work I know is going to be required to be successful there.”
It’s apparent the opportunities and challenges that are ahead of you as you continue to embark on your incredible. As you look ahead, talk about some of your goals and aspirations for college and beyond.
“My goals for college are to get my degree in forensics and to be a part of the starting team for Nebraska. I know that with the coach’s knowledge and my work ethic, I will continue to grow and that’s really my main goal: To grow as a person and as a bowler. I want to do my best to help my team win another national title! After college, I want to bowl on the national tour. It’s also a goal of mine to become a member of Team USA, and to compete for my country.”
What are some other interests and hobbies you might have and enjoy?
“Before my senior year I was really big into volleyball. I played for three years on my high schools JV and Varsity team as an outside and right-side hitter. Unfortunately, I had too much on my plate heading into my senior year, so I had to give it up. I also really enjoy fishing. It’s something my whole family loves to do and it’s just so calming and relaxing. I enjoy watching and reading crime documentaries! lol. Must be where the forensics degree comes in! 😆”
Youth bowling is booming. The experiences from your journey so far is so valuable both personally and also for others who might have aspirations one day of bowling collegiately, and of winning a PWBA tournament as you have. What advice might you give to those with similar goals and aspirations?
“My advice to those wanting to pursue bowling is to always work hard! Bowling isn’t any easy sport. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, practice, training, and time. I have given up many normal teenage experiences to be able to focus on my bowling, but my dedication has also opened the door for some pretty amazing opportunities that I never would have had otherwise. Another piece of advice is to have fun! You have to find joy in what you do! I have met so many great people and have gained some of the most amazing friendships from this sport. I have also been able to travel around the country and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”
Thank you, Haley, for taking time to share your bowling journey. You’re a true inspiration. You have this old soul about you that is amazing. The dedication and commitment you’ve put into your craft at a young age, and the type of composure you’ve shown in professional level competition says a lot of about you and your future in whatever endeavors you choose. Best of luck to you with Nebraska University and your goals in the PWBA. The bowling community worldwide will definitely be hearing more from you.
“Thank you so much for this experience and bringing awareness to women’s Bowling. I would like to thank Motiv bowling for providing me with amazing equipment to throw, Mikes Pro Shop for drilling all my equipment, and my home center, Junction Lanes, for providing me with an amazing center to practice at.”
