It can be difficult changing schools, finding new friends.
Kelcee Humphrey and her family have had to make a number of moves through the years.
But one thing that was always constant for Humphrey was her bowling. She could turn to the sport as a stress reliever, she could turn to the sport to satisfy her competitive edge, and she could turn to the sport simply to have fun.
This year, she has found a school — Fort Vancouver — that she loves and is proud to represent as The Columbian’s All-Region bowler of the year.
“I really wish I would have gone here all four years,” Humphrey said “I love the kids here, the teachers here.”
While the team did not excel, she loved being a part of the Trappers bowling squad.
Individually, Humphrey was the tops in Clark County. She won the district championship with a 636 series and averaged 20 pins more per match than the next best bowler in the region this season. She concluded the campaign with a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
The district title meant the world to her, when she rolled games of 204, 222, and 210.
“I immediately started crying. It was just so good,” she said. “I know I know how to bowl, but I used to get so tense (in the bigger tournaments). That day, I showed up and I did exactly what I knew I could do. To do that was amazing. Having all my friends there, my dad there, it just felt really, really good.”
Keeping it fun is a key to success in bowling, she said. That’s what she loved about her teammates. Humphrey bowled for Battle Ground as a freshman, then Mountain View the past two years, before moving to Fort’s boundary. At Fort, she found out that she and only one other Trapper had any experience with the game.
“Even though we didn’t win all the time, the girls did not get down. They still had fun,” Humphrey said. “You’ve gotta stay positive. If you don’t, there’s no point.”
Humphrey stayed positive throughout her journey as a high school student/athlete.
She found a home at Fort Vancouver and became the best of the best.
