For senior Majayla Boyd, bowling has been a family tradition and a place where she found confidence and community during her collegiate career at Baker University.

Boyd, who has been bowling for 18 years, said her grandparents introduced her to bowling at a young age. Although she played basketball, softball and volleyball growing up, she “always knew bowling was [her] first pick.”

Coming to Baker was something Boyd said she never expected. She described herself as shy during the recruiting process and said she was surprised when the coaching staff offered her a spot on the team despite not having seen her bowl in person.

“For her to put her trust in me and accept me was a true blessing,” Boyd said. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to be a part of an amazing team.”

Throughout her career, Boyd said one of her favorite memories was winning the conference championship during her freshman season, she said the experience was both exciting and nerve-racking because of the trust her teammates placed in her.

This season, Boyd said the team created a new tradition by marking tallies on their arms for strikes and 9-count pins during competitions, something bringing the team closer together and pushing them to improve.

Boyd said she has grown into more of a leader during her time at Baker by helping younger teammates adjust to the demands of being a student athlete. She said upperclassmen once helped guide her through competitions, and she now she wants to return the gesture.

Boyd described the team culture as family-oriented, saying teammates support and trust one another through successes and struggles.

“We cheer each other on, we push each other and we help each other out,” Boyd said. “If they can trust me, then they can trust others, and that makes a team.”

After graduation, Boyd plans to begin working and hopes to continue creating art and photography while traveling to new places.