It all started when a postcard from a local AMF bowling center arrived in the mail.
The postcard was announcing the start of bowling league season. Rachael Gittings, 7 at the time, was more than slightly interested.
"I was like, 'Mom, can we do this?' " Gittings said. "She was like, 'Yeah, sure.' "
Seven years later, Gittings decided bowling wasn't merely something she was going to do just for fun. She wanted to take it seriously.
That mindset led her to two youth city bowling championships and a 300 game. Ultimately, it led Gittings to Arkansas State, home to one of the premier bowling programs in the nation.
Most recently, the 20-year-old qualified for an honor on the national level: a coveted spot on junior Team USA bowling.
"It hasn't hit me yet. It's really surreal," said Gittings, a J.R. Tucker alumna. "I don't think it'll hit me until training camp starts."
After averaging 187 and 194 in her first two seasons at Arkansas State, Gittings qualified for junior Team USA through team trials, one of two ways an individual can make the team. The other is through the Junior Gold tournament, in which Gittings has bowled since she was 15. She never cracked the required top 30.
"A lot of people are shocked when they hear I made the team," she said. "Junior Team USA is the equivalent to the junior Olympic team. Anybody can bowl a 300 or an 800 (series), but it's so difficult to make this team because there are only a select few that can make it. It's an honor and I'm pretty excited."
Being on the team brings additional obligations for Gittings.
"We have to go to training camp in April," she said. "There's a tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, and I have the chance to go there. There's junior world (tournament) in Indianapolis, we have to be there to represent the team and talk with people. Everything you do is representing the United States."
Being on the team has given Gittings the chance to meet two role models and tenured Team USA bowlers, Shannon Pluhowsky and Diandra Asbaty.
"Shannon Pluhowsky was very complimentary," Gittings said. "Diandra Asbaty was very congratulating. It's just like your family now. Whether you are on juniors or on the regular team, they are there to encourage you. It's really awesome."
Gittings knows her time-management skills will be tested in the coming months.
"I'm missing class for the entire first week (of the spring semester)," she said. "So, it's difficult and overwhelming. You just have to understand that you aren't around a lot and make good choices and not always go out with your friends."
While time management may be a concern now, Gittings has not lost sight of what the spot on the team means to her.
"It's basically like a dream come true," she said. "It just shows you never want to give up on something."
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