Senior Boyd Gustafson qualified for the 2026 state bowling competition in his first year of bowling league. The state competition will be held at Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay Wis. in early May. Gustafson was astonished to hear he qualified.

“It’s insane. Since it’s my first year in league, I didn’t think that that would happen, but I was just so excited once I found out. It’s just shocking to me very much,” Gustafson said. 

Gustafson first bowled at a very young age but didn’t bowl much until October of last year. 

“I used to bowl once a year, ever since that I used the little ramp, so when I was probably about like three years old,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson got into leagues from his friend, Brylei Karaba, after bowling with them in October last year.

“I started bowling constantly in October of last year, because my friends said, ‘Hey, let’s go bowling,’ and I found out they’re really good at it, so I just kept doing it,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson has improved his bowling game drastically through his short time bowling; he has bowled great numbers in league and out of league. 

Gustafson says that out of league and just in general, his high score is 285 points. In league, his high score without handicap is 214, and with handicap it is 242. A handicap is a numerical, mathematical adjustment added to a player’s score to equalize competition between bowlers of different skill levels.

For Gustafson’s future, this could mean many college opportunities for him and his bowling career.