By Alena Siaw (24S03O) and Darren Wong (24S03C)
Photographs courtesy of Raffles Photographic Society
“One Team!”
“Raffles!”
The roars of supporters, the squeaks of bowling shoes, and the crash of pins resonated throughout the SuperBowl bowling alley in Mount Faber as seven schools gathered for the last day of Bowling NSG 2024.
The finals marked the end of a long week of action-packed competition at the alley. Amidst a flurry of strikes and spares, the Girls’ team emerged overall champions, with the Boys’ team also putting up a strong fight to achieve commendable results.
A Fun-Filled Victory
Ashley Zulkifly Minyi (25S03C), Geraldine Hooi (24S03H), Sarah Oh (25S03K), and Isabelle Wee (25S03K) formed the unbeatable quartet that clinched first place in the Girls’ quartets division. Their expertise and team synergy really shone through during the finals, with supporters cheering in awe as the girls bowled strike after strike.
On the rare occasion where one of them made a mistake, the team rallied together to offer words of encouragement and support. Their unwavering belief in each other and their ability to bounce back from setbacks is a strong testament to their exemplary team spirit and unity.
Isabelle and Sarah also placed second in the doubles event, with Isabelle coming in first runner-up in the individual category.
“The most important thing to us was to have fun,” laughed Isabelle, when asked about what their team prioritised during the competition. “[We] wanted to just enjoy the process,” chimed Sarah, a sentiment echoed by Isabelle with a nod of agreement.
It’s clear that the tournament wasn’t just about victory for the girls; it was also about savouring every moment shared on and off the lanes, never forgetting to have fun and bond as a team.
The Journey to the Finals
The seeds of this journey were sown months before the NSG season began. Under the guidance of their Coach Eugene Yong, both teams embarked on an intensive training regimen designed to hone their bowling skills and build team spirit.
“The training [sessions] leading up to the NSG finals were very intense,” said Boys’ captain Ian Wong (24S06J). “We trained for six hours every week for around four months.”
Clearly, the team’s preparation for the games was not easy, but the commitment that each and every one of them showed towards their training is nothing short of commendable.
For the Boys’ team especially, their NSG journey was fraught with formidable opponents and unexpected challenges. Ian injured his knee in the lead-up to the games, and they faced teams with far greater experience and with leagues more supporters. But as Ian put it, they “persevered and still pushed through despite the injuries and fatigue”, a true testament to the team’s fortitude.
All smiles from the Boys’ quartet!
Beyond the lanes, the team engaged in various bonding activities—a full-day bonding camp in march and post-training dinners helped forge a strong sense of unity and mutual support among members, which was evident in the way they cheered for and uplifted each other during the games.
What’s Next for RI Bowling?
“RI Bowling may have been seen as the underdogs for the past few years, and we wanted to create history for the team. It is my hope that we continue to do so in the years to come.”
Isabelle Wee
The girls’ reclamation of their championship status showcased the fruits of their unwavering dedication, inspiring the next generation of bowlers to sustain their excellence. “We’ll try to repeat what we did this year, and of course have fun in the process,” says Sarah.
And for the boys, team captain Ian hopes that they can “train and fight harder”, regaining RI’s place within the top three next year in their category.
Regardless of the final outcomes, their NSG journey has been nothing short of inspiring. The experience has not only developed their athletic abilities, but also instilled values of perseverance, teamwork, and discipline in them, preparing them for future challenges that extend beyond the bowling alley.
List of players:
BOYS:
WONG HOCK YONG IAN (Boys’ Captain) 24S06J
GOH YU RUI ZEPHRYN (Vice-Captain) 24S03O
ZHAN YIXIN 24S03H
JOSHUA CHOO JON SHEN 24S03L
LIM JUN KAI JANSSEN 24S03P
ZHU JIE 24S06E
MOHAN KUMAR KADHIRAVAN 24S06Q
BRYAN PEH JUN WEI 25A01E
TAN YUE YANG VERNON 25S05A
JAYDEN GOH JUN YI 25S03H
JORDAN PUAR JIA CHENG 25S03J
FABREGAS SEE ZHI YANG 25S06G
ZOU WENXUAN 25S06N
GIRLS:
SU TONG (Girls’ Captain) 24S03Q
GERALDINE HOOI CHI MUN 24S03J
LIM YAN XIN 24503M
CHUNG JING XUAN CHRISTAL 24S03P
ENG YI XUAN JAZELLE 24S03Q
GRACE TAN WEN YI 24S06Q
ASHLEY ZULKIFLY MINYI 25S03C
ISABELLE WEE (HUANG MIN) 25S03K
SARAH OH 25S03K
