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
'No sign of life' at crash site of helicopter carrying Iran's president
Rescuers on Monday found a helicopter that was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, which had crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran the day before.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.