Fulton County Ohio Media

Hannah Patch, Swanton High School Class of 2021, was recently named Bowler of the Year for the Siena Heights University (SHU) Saints women’s bowling team.  As she completes her junior year, the former Lady Bulldog was not only more than surprised to receive this accolade, but still amazed that she has even been on this incredible journey with another season remaining.  “It’s crazy. I never thought I would do bowling in college.  I didn’t think I was good enough to bowl in college.  I didn’t even think about it.  I was going to go to the University of Toledo and get a business degree,” said Hannah.  “But they (Siena Heights) reached out to me, I went on a visit and I loved it.”

Hannah began bowling at a very young age when she was encouraged by her good friend, Amy Lawson, to take up the sport.  Both Hannah and Amy joined the Swanton Lady Bulldogs bowling program under the tutelage of Coach Nick Staler and his daughter Ashlin during their freshman year, bowling at the Swanton Sports Center.  The team improved each season and in their senior year, they captured the NWOAL Tournament Championship, defeating the perennial power Bryan Lady Golden Bears in their home alley.  “It was great.  I loved that team.  It felt like we were a family,” reflected Hannah.

And her sentiments about her Lady Saints teammates are very similar.  Practices at the Lenawee Recreation Bowling Center in Adrian, which are four times a week, begin the same time as classes start in August.  During the actual bowling season, which runs from early October to late February, Hannah spends a great deal of time traveling around the mid-west competing in matches and tournaments in the 12-team Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC).  The long bus trips can be grueling and the overnight stays are very time consuming, but, according to Hannah, they are great bonding experiences and she does find time to catch up on her homework and her sleep.

In her final year at SHU, Hannah plans to focus on obtaining her degree with a major in Business and a minor in Communications.  She will work hard on her bowling to improve her game and help the team succeed, but she also wants to have fun with her teammates and fellow students.  Hannah knows her degree will be very beneficial when she ventures out into the work force, but for now, the real world can wait.

Photo: Hannah Patch – SHU Women’s Bowler of the Year