Papermaker bowler rolls along to state

Shelby Chartrand will crash pins with the best bowlers in the state Friday, at Tacoma Narrows Plaza Bowl.

The 14-year-old Camas High School freshman finished in seventh place at the 4A district tournament Jan. 30, at Allen’s Crosley Lanes in Vancouver. She rolled games of 170, 174 and 183 for a 527 series.

“This is a really big opportunity,” Chartrand said. “Basically, what I did was have fun and bowl my game like it’s just a Saturday. It actually felt nice.”

Camas finished in fifth place at districts with a combined total of 3,424 points. Battle Ground won the six-team scramble with 4,104 points.

Once her ticket to state had been punched, Chartrand enjoyed the rest of the day rotating frames with her teammates during the seven baker games. Shelby tossed her third strike in a row for a “turkey,” right after her sister Porsche threw a strike.

“It was a long day, and that was a nice way to end it,” Shelby said.

The only way the day could have ended better is if both Shelby and Porsche qualified for state together. Porsche missed her opportunity by five pins.

“To team up with my sister was great,” Shelby said. “It was nice to work together for once.”

Shelby looks to her sister for inspiration. Porsche won the district tournament in 2013 and finished eighth at state. She also spearheaded the start of the bowling program at the high school in 2012.

“I just want to continue where she left off,” Shelby said.

Shelby Chartrand realizes the pressure of being the only Papermaker in the state tournament. She knows her sister, parents, coaches and teammates have her back.

“If I bowl good, I’ll be thinking of them,” Chartrand said. “It will be a way to calm me down. I’ve had a lot of great times with them.”

Bowling helps Chartrand make more friends. She hopes to see more Papermakers trying out the sport in the years to come.

“I’ve had so many laughs with these people,” Chartrand said. “They make me a better bowler.”

Chartrand hopes strikes will be her friend at state. Wherever she finishes in the standings, she already feels like a winner.

“Whenever I get a strike, I remember what victory feels like,” Chartrand said. “It either starts a game off right or ends it well.”