Selkirk bowling captain rolling into her 90s
Strikes and gutters, ups and downs, could define the life of 91-year-old Mary Busch.
“I was about 37 when I started bowling, and everywhere I went there was a bowling alley,” Busch said.
Busch’s love of the game is one thing that has stayed consistent – she hasn’t slowed her roll.
For 16 years, she’s scored at weekly five-pin bowling. As captain of the Zingers with the Selkirk Seniors League, she averages 136. Her highest score this year is 231.
“My fondest memory is when the family came out and my grandson always tries to beat me,” Busch said as she laughed.
“He always tries to beat me; He’s 40 and he’s still trying.”
The Selkirk Senior League runs their weekly bowling on Thursdays from September to May from the Selkirk Bowling Centre.
Busch’s competitive nature and love of bowling inspired her family and friends to take up the sport. Shirley Beaupré joined her team seven years ago and admires Busch’s enthusiasm and longevity.
“She is so easy-going and encouraging, even if you are not having a good day, she’s always got something good and positive to say and she’s always up for games,” Beaupré said.
Beaupré had never tried bowling in her entire life prior to meeting Busch. She is grateful for their friendship.
“It's encouraging, that's for sure, because I'm going to be 70, so if I could bowl another 23 years, really it'd be wonderful to be able to do that. She just got her own bowling balls two years ago.”
“She just keeps going,” said Karen Warcimaga, Busch’s daughter and teammate.
“She insists on carrying her own bag, she wants to attend every week, she’s never sick enough to miss and just makes us all want to be there every day.”
Warcimaga said bowling has been a facet of her family's entire life, having watched her mother bowl in both Gimli and Selkirk over the years.
So what’s been the key to rolling so many strikes at her age?
“I listened to other people a long time ago and they used to say ‘slow and steady is always the way,’ so I used to teach those guys that,” Busch said.
“My age doesn’t slow me down because I’m still capable, I think.”
With energy to spare, Busch and her friends are looking forward to returning for another season with the Selkirk Seniors League this fall at Selkirk Bowling Centre and has no plans to give up her captaincy of the Zingers. Busch is set to turn 92 years old in early June.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.
Nine killed in Mexico stage collapse at campaign event
A stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure, scattering politicians and attendees.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Bangkok hospital says most seriously injured from turbulence-hit flight need spinal operations
Many of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence need operations on their spines, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday.
NEW AI helping to identify undiagnosed genetic disorders in children
Researchers have developed the world's first algorithm powered by artificial intelligence to identify children with undiagnosed rare genetic disorders.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
How does this end? With Hamas holding firm and fighting back in Gaza, Israel faces only bad options
Diminished but not deterred, Hamas is still putting up a fight after seven brutal months of war with Israel, regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities.
Majority of Canadians plan to stay close to home on this year's summer vacation, survey finds
A new survey found a majority of Canadian respondents plan to stay within the country on their next trip amidst high costs of living.