Twins Christy and Veronica Pestel chronicled their journey last fall from the Newman University campus in Wichita, Kansas, to the National Collegiate Team Match Games in St. Louis and back, giving a sneak peak into life as a member of the Newman bowling team.

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

 Wednesday

1 p.m.

Newman’s parking lot is almost empty. Everyone is leaving after their classes to go home. In the meantime, we are leaving the parking lot to go to the bowl to get our equipment ready for the tournament.

 Thursday (Thanksgiving)

10:04 a.m.

Departure time. We are all in great moods because this is the latest we have ever left. We normally leave around 5 a.m., so this was like sleeping in. Only partially into the trip, Christine, aka "Boston," informs everyone that she hates sitting in the back because she gets car sick. Coach says, “Look at the wonderful scenery and all the trees going by.” Boston replies, “It is so freakin’ flat down here” as she tries not to get sick. Georgia is sleeping. Bianca, Coach Billy and Brian are arguing about football teams while Amanda and we are doing homework. Amanda is studying education, while we each read a book for Ethics.

1:26 p.m.

We arrive at the house of teammate Zach Farmer’s parents in Kansas City for Thanksgiving.

1:30 p.m.

As we walk into his beautiful house, we notice that there is enough food to feed an army. Everyone is grabbing a plate to fill with food so they can hurry to the football game on TV.

2:20 p.m.

Everyone is done eating, and now the guys are either playing ping pong or video games. All the girls are just sitting around making fun of the guys and the power moves they perform after each frame on the bowling video game.

3:40 p.m.

It is almost time to leave, but Christine, Georgia and we pick up the plates and utensils to go wash them. (We figure it is the least we could do since the Farmer family provided us with such a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.)

4:05 p.m.

Back on the road again. Everyone is sleeping, listening to the football game or listening to their iPods.

7:45 p.m.

We arrive at the hotel. After unloading all of our bags, we decide to watch Grey’s Anatomy, one of our favorite shows. Most of the team went to grab a bite to eat.

11:30 p.m.

Bedtime.

 Friday

5:15 a.m.

First shower is beginning. (Christy's turn)

7 a.m.

Since we do not have the guys with us (they bowl in the afternoon), we are leaving the hotel on time and heading to Starbucks to get some breakfast.

8:15 a.m.

The whole team is hyped up and ready to bowl. Our mom and grandma, along with a few other team family members, have come to watch us bowl. They have brought lots of goodies for us to snack on. (We really appreciate all the support our families give us.)

9 a.m.

It is halfway through the first game and you can tell that everyone has first-game jitters.

10:00 a.m.

I (Veronica) pulled something in my shoulder and could not bowl so Boston is being put in my spot. Today started off rough but by the last three games we started communicating, got excited and finished strong. We finished the day fourth on our squad.

3:30 p.m.

We are loading everyone up in the vans to go grab something to eat and then head to the mall for the day-after-Thanksgiving sales!

10 p.m.

We just got back to the hotel and are calling our parents to tell them how we bowled.

11:30 p.m.

Bedtime.

 Saturday

5 a.m.

Once again, I (Christy) am dragging my butt out of bed to start the shower schedule.

7 a.m.

We are leaving the hotel and heading to St. Louis Bread to get some breakfast, and then head to the bowl.

7:50 a.m.

A quick team meeting is taking place, and what balls to use and how to play the lane is being discussed.

Noon

We just finished our last three team games and now we are going to eat at the mall. Then we will come back to watch the guys.

2 p.m.

We are cheering for the Newman and Wichita State guys. (Although they are our competition, we are friends with Wichita State players and wish them luck as well.)

5:45 p.m.

Both of our teams are excited because we made the finals. This is the first time the women’s team has made the finals at this tournament. The format now changes to Baker games, which are always more exciting. Baker games are usually our strong point.

6:20 p.m.We are dominating Baker games. We win all of our matches. Our team started over 400 pins behind fourth and we caught up 260 pins.

8:40 p.m.

All of us are upset because we bowled so well and only finished sixth. However, we saw what our new team is capable of doing, and we know at the next tournament we will be great.

8:50 p.m.

We receive the Most Improved Award for going from 17th last year to sixth.

9:30 p.m.

Most of us are heading back to the hotel. The guys are going to order pizza and Boston, Georgia and we are going to a sports grill to eat and watch a basketball game.

10:45 p.m.

We are back at the hotel and few of the Pikeville guys are in the hallway so we stop and chat. Several of the teams stay at the same hotel.

11:30 p.m.

It is getting late so everyone goes to their rooms to watch TV and do homework.

1 a.m.

Bedtime.

 Sunday

9 a.m. – Yes! We got to sleep in! Anyways, we are all getting up and getting ready. (We always assign a different person at each tournament to do room checks. Boston got the job.)

10 a.m. – We are leaving the hotel.

10:10 a.m. – We are turning right back around because Karen thinks she left her phone at the hotel. (This is not the first time this has happened.)

Noon – We are stopping to grab some lunch. I (Veronica) am feeling kind of sick so I do not eat anything, but I do take the guys’ football so Georgia and I can throw it around.

1 p.m. – We are on the road again. Georgia and Boston are singing “Let’s Get It On.” Amanda is listening to her iPod. Blake is sleeping. Bianca is studying. We are studying organic chemistry.

2 p.m. – I (Veronica) am coming down with the flu. I'm really not feeling too well. I ask for a bag just in case and immediately throw up. Everyone is worried about me. We have to pull over four more times for me to get sick. I have never felt so sick in my life, and all I can think about is getting back to the dorm. I feel sorry for everyone that had to listen, and I thank Christine for helping me to the bathroom.

6:30 p.m. – We finally are at the dorms and I (Veronica) am taken to my dorm room and pass out as soon as I get there. I (Christy) am just happy to be back and thanking God that Veronica is sleeping. What a lovely way to end our Thanksgiving break!