MONROE - For as long as Monroe junior Collyn Wilde has been bowling, he also has battled Tourette's Syndrome.
Only Wilde's family, close friends and teachers at Monroe High School know he has Tourette's. Tourette's Syndrome is characterized by involuntary repetitive movements called "tics" that can include eye blinking, facial grimacing, head bobbing, or neck and arm jerking.
In the past, Wilde had a vocal tic that caused him to squeak. He still at times pops his wrist, blinks his eyes or clears his throat when he is nervous.
"It's what makes me special," Wilde said of having Tourette's Syndrome.
At 17, Wilde, has learned how to cope with and manage his Tourette's.
He's also learned to master the lanes.
This weekend, Wilde is heading into the Wisconsin Pepsi USBC Youth State Championships in Appleton as the top bowler with a 788 series in the U20 division. He will be one of about 70 participants in the U20 division Saturday.
Scholarship money for the top 10 finishers is at stake. If he wins the state title, Wilde will win $700 towards a scholarship and an automatic berth in the Junior Gold National Tournament in Cleveland.
"I want to go in with an open frame of mind and bowl like I know how I can bowl and whatever happens, happens."
He qualified for the Pepsi state tournament by bowling a 788 series in the Beloit Region IV tournament March 19. Wilde bowled three scratch games of 257, 297 and 234. The game of 297 is his best bowling game yet and was just one pin away from earning scholarship money at the regional.
"I was more upset I didn't get the 300," he said. "I wanted it pretty bad."
When Wilde is not doing homework, playing golf or working at the Monroe Country Club, he can be found at Leisure Lanes working on his bowling game. He was a member of the Monroe High School bowling team that won the Division 2 state club bowling championship this season.
Wilde is considering a future of bowling in college. He knows two of his former teammates on the Monroe High School club bowling team are on the bowling team at Highland Community College in Freeport. He also is drawing college bowling interest from West Texas A&M.
His brother, Dylon Wilde competed on the University of Wisconsin-Madison club bowling team.
"It would be cool to move on to the collegiate level and be on a team that can win the national title," he said. "It would be cool to get a scholarship to Highland.
"I just want to consider my options and look at different colleges."
Between now and next year, Wilde is looking to get as much experience he can bowling in various tournaments.
Earning scholarship money is just a bonus, Wilde's father and bowling coach, Dennis Wilde said.
"It's a great experience and he has a chance to meet many different people," the senior Wilde said. "It's like the All-Stars of bowlers. It's not only high school bowlers, it's any kid who qualified from a junior league."
Wilde has been entrenched in the high school golf season, but he still finds time to practice and hone his bowling skills during the week and on weekends. Even though his days are not all devoted to bowling, Wilde expects not to have any problems gearing up for the state tournament.
"Once I bowl a couple of times, I just have to get my timing and release point down," he said. "You really can't control when the ball leaves your hands."
Wilde averaged about a 200 bowling in the junior league at Leisure Lanes. Wilde's junior league bowling coach Mike Myers isn't surprised by Wilde's success.
"He's put a lot of hard work into it along with his talent," Myers said. "Leisure Lanes has only had three or four qualify for this tournament the last few years."
Myers said the biggest area Wilde has improved is his knowledge of the game.
"I think his knowledge for the game has definitely improved," Myers said. "He knows what to do and adjust when it's an oily or dry alley."
Wilde said when he's nervous or excited his tics like eye blinking, clearing his throat or popping his wrist come out.
"I just have to clam down and focus and they go away," he said.
But he understands how to channel it.
"I just step away for a few seconds and take a couple of deep breaths," he said. 'Music helps a lot."
When he is finished in high school, he would like to team with his father and brother, Dylon Wilde to enter a bowling tournament.
"It would mean a lot to me," Collyn said of having the chance to bowl in the tournament with his father and brother. "We've all grown up around bowling. My dad has been a stickler about practicing. We each share a passion and a love for the game."
Only Wilde's family, close friends and teachers at Monroe High School know he has Tourette's. Tourette's Syndrome is characterized by involuntary repetitive movements called "tics" that can include eye blinking, facial grimacing, head bobbing, or neck and arm jerking.
In the past, Wilde had a vocal tic that caused him to squeak. He still at times pops his wrist, blinks his eyes or clears his throat when he is nervous.
"It's what makes me special," Wilde said of having Tourette's Syndrome.
At 17, Wilde, has learned how to cope with and manage his Tourette's.
He's also learned to master the lanes.
This weekend, Wilde is heading into the Wisconsin Pepsi USBC Youth State Championships in Appleton as the top bowler with a 788 series in the U20 division. He will be one of about 70 participants in the U20 division Saturday.
Scholarship money for the top 10 finishers is at stake. If he wins the state title, Wilde will win $700 towards a scholarship and an automatic berth in the Junior Gold National Tournament in Cleveland.
"I want to go in with an open frame of mind and bowl like I know how I can bowl and whatever happens, happens."
He qualified for the Pepsi state tournament by bowling a 788 series in the Beloit Region IV tournament March 19. Wilde bowled three scratch games of 257, 297 and 234. The game of 297 is his best bowling game yet and was just one pin away from earning scholarship money at the regional.
"I was more upset I didn't get the 300," he said. "I wanted it pretty bad."
When Wilde is not doing homework, playing golf or working at the Monroe Country Club, he can be found at Leisure Lanes working on his bowling game. He was a member of the Monroe High School bowling team that won the Division 2 state club bowling championship this season.
Wilde is considering a future of bowling in college. He knows two of his former teammates on the Monroe High School club bowling team are on the bowling team at Highland Community College in Freeport. He also is drawing college bowling interest from West Texas A&M.
His brother, Dylon Wilde competed on the University of Wisconsin-Madison club bowling team.
"It would be cool to move on to the collegiate level and be on a team that can win the national title," he said. "It would be cool to get a scholarship to Highland.
"I just want to consider my options and look at different colleges."
Between now and next year, Wilde is looking to get as much experience he can bowling in various tournaments.
Earning scholarship money is just a bonus, Wilde's father and bowling coach, Dennis Wilde said.
"It's a great experience and he has a chance to meet many different people," the senior Wilde said. "It's like the All-Stars of bowlers. It's not only high school bowlers, it's any kid who qualified from a junior league."
Wilde has been entrenched in the high school golf season, but he still finds time to practice and hone his bowling skills during the week and on weekends. Even though his days are not all devoted to bowling, Wilde expects not to have any problems gearing up for the state tournament.
"Once I bowl a couple of times, I just have to get my timing and release point down," he said. "You really can't control when the ball leaves your hands."
Wilde averaged about a 200 bowling in the junior league at Leisure Lanes. Wilde's junior league bowling coach Mike Myers isn't surprised by Wilde's success.
"He's put a lot of hard work into it along with his talent," Myers said. "Leisure Lanes has only had three or four qualify for this tournament the last few years."
Myers said the biggest area Wilde has improved is his knowledge of the game.
"I think his knowledge for the game has definitely improved," Myers said. "He knows what to do and adjust when it's an oily or dry alley."
Wilde said when he's nervous or excited his tics like eye blinking, clearing his throat or popping his wrist come out.
"I just have to clam down and focus and they go away," he said.
But he understands how to channel it.
"I just step away for a few seconds and take a couple of deep breaths," he said. 'Music helps a lot."
When he is finished in high school, he would like to team with his father and brother, Dylon Wilde to enter a bowling tournament.
"It would mean a lot to me," Collyn said of having the chance to bowl in the tournament with his father and brother. "We've all grown up around bowling. My dad has been a stickler about practicing. We each share a passion and a love for the game."
