Marisol Dodson has been bowling since she was just four years old. It is a tradition that her family has passed down from one generation to the next. 14 years later, Marisol is a senior at Sandalwood High School and is showing great potential in the sport.
In addition to being a team captain and MVP, Marisol finished in the top ten in the state last year. She’s won the Gateway Conference Championship and District Championship for the past two year, and is the odds-on favorite to repeat this year. She has also been named All-Conference the past three years, and is a virtual lock for her fourth.
“My favorite thing about bowling is all of the competition and getting to meet so many friends,” Marisol said. “It is a very communicative sport. I like bowling for Sandalwood because our team is very close.”
According to Head Coach Tom Caggiano, Marisol is the anchor of the team and she really holds up under pressure. She is very helpful to the other bowlers, providing them with tips and feedback to help them.
“Marisol is a good leader,” Coach Caggiano said. “When the game is on the line, she shows great poise, focus and determination.”
Marisol has bowled a perfect 300 and her highest series (three-game set) is 801. Unfortunately for her, both have been during practice do not officially count. With such a gem like Marisol, it is no surprise that the Lady Saints have been undefeated for the past two years. Still, she strives to improve her game every day.
“My brother Rico knows me best, because we practice together all of the time,” Marisol said. “I want to improve on my spare game and bowling on oil patterns.”
According to the Professional Bowling Association (PBA), in the early days of bowling, oil conditioner was applied to the lane as a barrier to protect the surface from damage over years of use. As lacquer, polyurethane and synthetic surfaces became more popular, thus oil became part of the sport. Different oil patterns yield different spins and speeds down the lane, like the slope or cut on a golf putting green. It is imperative to be knowledgeable and experienced in the various patterns and their effects, especially for college events and beyond.
Unfortunately for Marisol, high school competition does not use oil patterns; and although she is a member of the Jax Jammers League at Jax Lanes Grove Park, like every other league in the city, they do not offer oil patterns for their bowlers to practice on.
“I am just trying hard to get my name out there somehow,” Marisol said. “Colleges are going to be tough to get into because I do not have a lot of practice on oil patterns. I travel and compete in as many tournaments outside of Jacksonville as I can.”
Marisol has been researching colleges with good bowling programs and is interested in attending Union College in Kentucky, Pikeville College in Kentucky or Emmanuel College in Georgia.
Last year, Sandalwood’s undefeated streak was almost broken by Fletcher High School during the last match of the season. The Lady Saints rallied around each other and ended up beating Fletcher by one pin.
“Every pin counts,” Marisol said. “I have lost a tournament by two pins before, [too].”
She feels the Senators were the best competition they’ve faced and is looking forward to seeing what talent they have on their team this year.
“We are going to miss her and the other two seniors, all who have been on the team since their freshman year,” Coach Caggiano said. “Hopefully they will go out with a bang by qualifying for the State tournament for their third consecutive year.”
Gatorade or Powerade: Powerade
Favorite Movie: If I Stay
Favorite Athlete: Michael Fagan
Ideal Place to Travel: California
Favorite Artist: Hunter Hays or Luke Bryan
Favorite Subject: Math
Least Favorite Subject: History
Superpower You Wish You Fad: To Fly
Player Spotlight/ North Florida/ October 2014
Marisol Dodson
Sandalwood High School
Jacksonville, FL
JESSICA BABCOCK
Senior Sandalwood Bowling Star Eyes Championship Finish
