Science is tough, but Madi Lave is even tougher.
The Joliet Junior College freshman has been busy taking two science classes along with bowling for the first-year Wolves program, but like a 7-10 split, while it’s tough to pull off, the Lockport resident has found a way to succeed in the classroom as well as at the bowling alley.
Lave recently made history by winning the women’s singles national title during the 2024 NCJCAA Bowling Championship at Royal Scot Golf and Bowl in Lansing, Michigan.
“I’ve been studying for two science classes this semester which is kicking my butt, but I’m doing good,” she said. “I haven’t completely wrapped my head around the idea of winning the singles title, if I’m being honest. This means a lot to me, seeing the work I have put in all season long pay off into something I can appreciate for years to come. It is an honor to have the opportunity to accomplish this win for the JJC program and get the recognition, especially being a first-year program.”
Bowling has been a big part of Lave’s life ever since she was 10. She bowled all four years at Lockport High School, helping the Porters’ girls team win state titles in 2022 and 2023.
After graduation she chose to begin studying medical sonography at Joliet Junior College. She hopes to become an ultrasound technician someday.
“So I’ve always been interested in the medical field, where my mom has been and a few other people who I grew up around,” she said. “I took anatomy and it was really interesting and I kind of have an idea of helping patients so I got into medical sonography.”
She’s also gotten out of her shell a bit.
“After being on a team with girls for four years (at Lockport), this team was a different concept,” she said. “I was a little anxious at first, but have broken out of my shell and created a bond with the team so I’m able to relax and have some fun.”
Throwing rocks did her talking for so long, but now she’s throwing them while throwing back conversations with her teammates, becoming more talkative and friendly with her bowling peers.
“It used to be bad when I was younger,” she said. “After getting a job and talking to more people and going to school I’ve gotten a lot better and grown to become more outgoing.”
At this time a year ago, JJC didn’t have men’s and women’s bowling teams so the timing for Lave’s arrival couldn’t have been better.
“Madi is a quiet, humble person that tries to stay away from trouble and she kind of does her thing,” JJC coach Jeff Bailey said. “When she approached me to go to JJC I was ecstatic because the Lockport girls program is very strong. So she came on board at Joliet Junior College and again she was quiet, but we felt very good about the season and fed off each other. She’s open to suggestion and criticism and anything and I’m very thankful she came here.”
Teammate Khari Barnes arrived at JJC from Chicago and saw his friendship with Lave grow as he got to know her.
“I knew nothing about her when we first met, but she was quiet,” Barnes said. “But as the season progressed she became cooler and cooler. I remember her walking away without saying goodbye once and I waved to her and I felt like I made her talk to us a little bit more and open up. We’ve got like a family bond here and Madi is a great person and one of the strongest bowlers on the team.”
Another teammate, Tyler Richter, who finished 17th in the men’s singles at nationals, said a mix of personalities on the lanes has made for a great collegiate bowling experience.
“For me personally I’m very outgoing and I think my energy transferred over a little once I cracked some jokes,” he said. “It’s like a family here and this team is one of the best I’ve ever been on and Madi is a big part of that and a lot of the energy comes from her.”
Managing that energy and maintaining one’s poise during the best and worst of times can be one of the biggest challenges for any athlete. While she may be quiet, the competitor in her roars, but she’s able to tame her adrenalin and move on from mistakes. Nobody’s perfect and nobody bowled better than Lave at nationals.
“I think her demeanor while in competition feeds into other girls,” Bailey said. “Bowling can sometimes be a frustrating sport like any other sport. She never really showed much frustration, and as a coach you can see things, but she never really brought that out. I think that was the biggest benefit with the girls. She always had the positive outlook and I think that fed in with the other girls to keep a calm demeanor no matter what was going on.”
She most certainly had it going on at nationals, picking the ideal time to really shine.
“She at times doubted her talent, but always gave 110%,” Bailey said. “She was always close to breaking out during the regular season, but to see her become national champion was the most enjoyable payoff for her pushing herself all season long to be great and finish her freshman year on a positive result.”
C.R. Walker is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
