By Ken Hansard
Chanute High School senior bowler and student-athlete Jett Cosby spoke to VYPE SPORTS in a recent interview.
VYPE SPORTS: What are your personal goals for the year?
Cosby: The past few years I have struggled with the pressure of (bowling) at regionals, which kept me from participating at state. This year my main goal is making it to state and getting as close to the top five as possible. Another goal that I am looking to fulfill is bowling in college.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite athletic memory?
Cosby: Bowling brings many happy memories of the small but prominent community that supports it. I do not have a single favorite memory, but the memories that stick around are the times that I can use my advanced bowling knowledge to help others that do not know much about the sport.
VYPE SPORTS: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
Cosby: The late but great OceanRae Anderson. Her bright and contagious smile left an impact on the bowling team like no other. After her unfortunate passing in May of this year, my view of the importance of a single smile changed drastically. My priority is not winning but having fun and enjoying the moment while doing the things I love to do.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite part of being on this team?
Cosby: I love the ability to be an example to the people around me, such as being able to help them improve their attitudes and then, in turn, watching them do the same for others.
VYPE SPORTS: What clubs or campus groups are you involved with and why?
Cosby: Currently, my only extra-curricular activity is bowling. I’ve been bowling since I was about six years old and started to compete all around Kansas at the age of 10. I have been competing ever since, so bowling now is second nature to me. I have a strong passion for bowling, so it was easy to decide to bowl for the Chanute Blue Comets.
VYPE SPORTS: What accolades (in any sport or activity) are you most proud of?
Cosby: I am definitely most proud of helping to create this amazing bowling team here at Chanute High School. I find myself thinking back to the beginning of the bowling team – getting the idea, taking it to the school board, and putting the wheels in motion to make it a reality.
VYPE SPORTS: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
Cosby: To refrain from over-complicating things. Bowling is very technical, so over-complication only leads to problems, such as throwing the ball too hard or throwing it in the wrong spot.
VYPE SPORTS: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?
Cosby: The last thing that you say to yourself lingers more than anything else. What that means is, if you are thinking to yourself “don’t miss, don’t miss” your mind is more likely to think about missing rather than not missing. Instead of saying “don’t miss” say “I will do this.”
VYPE SPORTS: Who inspires you and why?
Cosby: My coach from Olathe, Frank (Coach Frank) Russel. He has been my biggest inspiration for years with his enthusiasm and his depth of knowledge – and especially his way of saying things in a way that anyone can understand.
VYPE SPORTS: Here is your chance to give a shoutout or say thank you to anyone you wish.
Cosby: I would like to thank my mom for assisting me in creating the bowling team as well as the board directors that allowed all of this to happen. I would also like to thank my dad, who introduced me to the sport of bowling. Additionally, I would like to thank all of my coaches along the way, especially Coach Frank, Austin Strack, Austin Robinson, and Coach Lewis and Steelsmith of WSU.
