For Zoey Merkestyn, bowling has been therapeutic and a great help when it comes to coping with her cerebral palsy. Now, she is heading to national tournaments to tell the world anything is possible, if you put your mind to it.

“I want to show people that a disability doesn’t stop you. You can still go forward in life,” said the Windsor, Ont., resident.

“Bowling has just helped me out with my life.”

In early May, 14-year-old Merkestyn will head to the Youth Bowl Canada nationals in Winnipeg and then in July to the Junior Gold Championship, in Minneapolis.

Merkestyn said she has been putting in at least four hours per week to prepare for the tournaments and is “excited, scared, nervous, but ready”.

She said she has learnt many life lessons in the lanes and found a community but it didn’t begin that way. She says she was often picked on for her condition. Just last year, she says, a bunch of girls made fun of her gait at a tournament she took part in.

“They were making fun of the way I was walking,” she said. “I was hurt but the more it went on, I tried to not let it bother me.”

She said she chose to focus on the pins and learning more about the game rather than the negativity. Through the years, she found friends in these bowling alleys, from across Canada and the U.S.

“That’s really what’s been keeping me going on, the people and the support and just the happiness I get from the sport,” she said. “Even if it gets stressful, it’s fun. If you don’t win, you don’t win. I just remember, ‘you’re here to have fun’”.

Bowling made her stronger: Zoey’s father

Her father, Nathan Merkestyn, says he is proud of Zoey as this is the second time she is heading to a tournament of that size. In 2024, Zoey also won gold, silver, and bronze medals at a Canadian Tenpin Federation (CTF) tournament.

Nathan said Zoey heading to the American tournament, which attracts over 3,000 kids from around the world, is “thrilling”.

He says when Zoey went to her first tournament, she was “really quiet and shy” but now has grown.

“I think bowling has made her physically, mentally and emotionally stronger and given a huge confidence boost.”

It’s a lot of travelling and costs, but the single father says it’s worth it. The process has also taught him a lot about bowling.

“There’s a lot more to bowl in than just grab the ball and toss it down, hoping you knock down some pins,” he said.

Nathan said it all started with Zoey’s grandmother suggesting she bowl at a young age to help her cope with her disability. When she was a child, Nathan said Zoey was in a walker but after years of therapy and a tendon surgery, she was able to walk better. 

“She’s overcome it. She’s there to prove to everyone that ‘hey, it doesn’t matter, you can still do it’,” he said.

Zoey agrees, saying she wants to continue to pursue bowling and that she would pursue a bowling scholarship.

Wants to see bowling grow in Canada

Chris Woolcock, the coach of the Southern Ontario CTF team, says only American universities offer that scholarship route.

“They don’t have any university or college bowling programs up here in Canada,” he said.

“I obviously would love to see more programs here in Canada where we could keep our bowlers. Athletes just don’t get scholarships much up here in Canada, they’re more for academics.”

He said he is also one of the coaches at Unifor 444 youth league – the largest one in Canada — and wants to pass his knowledge to the next generation.

“You really are not coaching just bowlers. These are the youth of tomorrow, our leaders to come.”

Woolcock said many have gone on to win bowling scholarships. He wants to see that in Canada and the community around it like in the States “where every small town has a bowling alley”.

“In Canada, there are a lot of other competing sports, whether it be indoor soccer or hockey or things like that. So there’s a lot of sports competing for time.”

He urges other parents to consider bowling as it’s a great social sport for kids, especially those on the spectrum, where they can do their own thing and yet be part of a team.

“I hope bowling will continue to grow as a sport in Canada.”