Danielle Fendenheim, a bowling athlete from Mandarin High School, has been named our 2022-2023 ITG Next Northeast Florida Bowler of the Year.
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Fendenheim fell in love with bowling purely by accident. When she was in second grade, her mother happened upon a flyer for a Saturday morning bowling youth league. That discovery would transform Fendenheim’s life forever.
Fendenheim has gone to accomplish much in bowling, both individually and for her team.
“My very first major accomplishment was back in 2018, when I qualified for Junior Gold for the first time, which is a big national tournament,” Danielle says. “Another major accomplishment that stood out the most was back in 2020. I was runner-up at the Florida High School State Championships. My third major accomplishment was in February of 2021. I shot my very first sanctioned game of a 300.”
Although she’s achieved a lot of success, it hasn’t always been easy. Fendenheim was a victim of high school bullying – to such a degree that her parents switched her from public to charter school. She says she never felt like she fit in among the crowd, and she was bullied a lot because of it. Her family decided it was best for her and her education if she continued school online while being able to compete in bowling for Mandarin High.
“I’ve been doing all my learning online and it’s given me a lot of extra time to be in the bowling alley to practice and get better,” Fendenheim says. “It’s also given me the opportunity to have a job and be able to provide for my family.”
At a young age, Fendenheim has a lot on her plate. Going to school full time, being a student-athlete, and having a job can be overwhelming. It’s important for her to find a balance with her busy schedule.
“Typically, I work about seven to one each day, Monday through Friday,” she says. “Then I’ll come home and do my schoolwork, which is about three lessons a day for Florida Virtual School. The majority of the days, the bowling alley doesn’t open until four, so then I’ll go to the bowling alley and practice about two or three hours a day to improve my abilities.”
Compared to many other sports, bowling to be overlooked. What are some misconceptions about the game?
“There’s a lot, but one of the biggest misconceptions is bowling is not a sport,” Fendenheim says. “Nowadays it’s becoming more respected, but people just kind of shrug it off. A lot of people don’t realize that bowling is one of the only sports you can get scholarship money from. Over the past five years I’ve accumulated about $6,000 for school, and that goes to further my education. Bowling is about more than just going to the bowling alley and having fun with friends. It can really give you opportunities.”
What’s next for Fendenheim? She signed with Emanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, on a bowling scholarship. She has the will and the mindset to do anything she puts her mind to.
Congratulations to Mandarin athlete Danielle Fendenheim, the 2022-2023 ITG Next Northeast Florida Bowler of the Year.
