GOSHEN - When LaVille senior Hayden Grindle put pen to paper to sign to continue his academic and athletic career at Goshen College, there were a couple of firsts that transpired. In doing so, Grindle became the first LaVille High School bowler under coach Kevin Kubsch to continue his collegiate career at the next level in recent history. The fall of 2024 will also be Goshen College's first mens and womens bowling teams. "I wanted to stay close to home and I wanted a strong music program," said Grindle of his selection.  "I am super excited that I am able to continue my education and athletic career." According to Grindle, he is entering his third year of bowling at LaVille.  After 9 matches so far this season, Grindle is averaging 155 and is tied for second on the team in individual points won. "Hayden has always brought to the table a great work ethic and he continuously wants to strive to be better," said Kubsch when asked about Grindle.  "He is always looking to be very consistent in his approach to the game as well as his mechanics to his game.  He is a very self motivated person because he has spent many hours on his game outside of regular practice and has always tried to make his game better by bowling in competitive leagues and tournaments.  He never stops asking the right questions about the game and what it takes to make him a better bowler." As Grindle continues to put in the work to become more consistent, that ended up being something that Goshen College coach Scott Curtis was looking for. "Goshen was one of the colleges that Hayden was interested in," Curtis said when asked about how he got connected with Grindle. "I invited Hayden to campus, watched him bowl, fixed a few things, which hopefully he is working on.  I see the upside - he wants to work hard, he wants to get better. He wants his studies and we have an area that he is interested in, so the sky's the limit for this kid. I want to give him an opportunity and I think it will be a good fit being a small school." "Hayden is a good kid.  He listens.  And that's one of the things I look for.  If they listen and want to get better and have good interactions with their teammates, that's important.  I can't wait to see Hayden blossom." Grindle is currently taking three music courses at LaVille - Instrumental Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Advanced Concert Band - as he prepares for the steps ahead. The Goshen, Indiana, school offers music majors and minors and prospective students can expect a well-rounded education.  According to the Goshen College website, students will receive an education grounded in the classical tradition while also immersed in various styles.  They offer one of the most outstanding programs for undergraduate music students who wish to work in the music business or perfect their instruments through music performance. Goshen College music students have gone on to music technology, music publishing, recording technology, film music editing, teaching music and private lessons, performance emphasis, music promotion, music production, and music therapy. Now that Grindle has signed to continue his academic and athletic career at GC, he has the opportunity for dual growth - music and bowling. "It has meant a lot to our program to have Hayden be the first to sign on with a college team because it will hopefully inspire others on the team to try and find the same kind of path that Hayden is on now since signing with Goshen College," explained Kubsch.  "I also look at Hayden's signing as a possible recruiting tool to get other students interested in bowling." Saturday was a special day all-around for LaVille. To start the day, LaVille and 23 teams from the Michiana West Conference bowling league witnessed Grindle's collegiate signing.  Then coach Kubsch and the entire LaVille coaching staff recognized the senior class for their time, dedication and commitment.  LaVille closed the day by defeating Argos to continue a solid start to the 2023 season. "It was so great to see the reaction of the bowlers and the fans who were there Saturday to watch Hayden's signing," smiled Kubsch.  "There aren't that many sports where your competitors and their fans cheer for you when you have the opportunity to sign that letter in front of so many people.  Bowling has a completely different fan base and we are so proud of Hayden for his signing in front of all those people present." As Goshen College gets set to open in 2024, coach Curtis explained more about what the team can look forward to. "Next fall will be the first Goshen College Maple Leaf bowling team and Hayden is a part of team one," said Curtis.  "Right now we have eight guys that have signed letters of intent to come. I consider Hayden to be a local kid. I consider anywhere from South Bend over toward Goshen being local.   "I have coached in Michigan and they have over 400 high school bowling teams and they are one of the largest in the country.  Then hopefully Indiana adds more to what they have. College bowling has increased.  On the women's side, collegiate bowling has increased over 50 percent.  So for a small school like Goshen to take that jump, they are learning a lot from me in how this college team works. I've coached a year of college bowling and my daughter is a 4-year college bowler so she knows the ins and outs and will be an assistant for me." Goshen College has bowling privileges at Maple City Bowl in Goshen, IN., and Signature Lanes in Elkhart, IN. According to Curtis, the collegiate bowling schedule is set up tournament style, so everything will be on the road. And as the high school season nears the homestretch, Grindle appreciates being part of LaVille bowling and wants to continue his improvement, "The team has meant a lot to me over the past couple years. The main thing I want to improve is my consistency." In 2024, Goshen College will bowl as part of the Crossroads League, where there are 9 of 10 total institutions that offer bowling.  The Maple Leafs join Bethel, Grace, Huntington, Indiana Wesleyan, Marian, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Saint Francis, and Spring Arbor in the Crossroads League. There are 191 high schools in Indiana with bowling as a sport, and 75 of them are in Northern Indiana. Eighteen million Americans age 17 and under bowl each year and more than 200 colleges offer the sport. The NAIA first recognized bowling as a championship sport in 2019-20. Fifty-eight men's and 58 women's teams competed in the sport at the NAIA level last season. Goshen College is a renowned college in Northern Indiana with award-winning programs that educate the head and heart, creating global citizens who lead with courage and compassion. With bowling added, the Maple Leafs will now compete in 16 varsity sports in the NAIA's highly competitive Crossroads League and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, continuing a tradition of intercollegiate athletics that dates to 1956 and included women's competition nearly a decade before Title IX. For more information on GC athletics, visit GoLeafs.net and follow the Maple Leafs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @GC_MapleLeafs.