Daniel Helton
Content by Stormy Wesley (1-12-26)
It all started with a friendship. Julie Clark, long-time Powell County Board of Education employee and former Cross Country Coach at Powell County, was friends with Dodd Dixon, Cross Country Coach in Clark County.
Dixon has served as the meet official and starter for all but 2 meets in Cross Country and Track hosted by Powell County over the past 21 years. Clark and Dixon discussed the creation of a high school bowling program at Powell County High School.
“I really thought Julie would make a good bowling coach,” said Dodd Dixon. The two talked about a bowling program at Powell County from 2019-2023. But nothing happened.
Eventually, in the Fall of 2023, Dixon and Clark decided that if Julie could advocate for the creation of a bowling team at Powell County High School, Dixon would coach them.
The bowling season runs from September to the first week in February. “We had this discussion in September or October of 2023,” said Dixon. “I thought another year was going to go by with no bowling program.”
Late one night in mid-January of 2024, the Powell County School Board approved the program.
“So Julie calls me in mid-January of 2024. The regular season is days from being over and the post season was about to start and Julie advises that we had an official team, “said Dixon.
“I said, Julie, we need athletes, sports physicals, uniforms, bowling balls, we need to notify KHSAA and the entry deadline for Regionals is in seven days,” said Dixon.
Somehow the two, along with Steve Colwell, pulled it all together. The young team won its one and only regular season match that year and had a full boys and girls team compete at Regionals.
Members of the inaugural Powell County Bowling Team were: Aidan King, Aidan Berry, Colin Crase, Landon Nolan, Alan Soliday, Brody Welch, Carter Poe, Garrett Gillespie, Todd Harrison, Carson Ewen, Hailey Powell, Penny Spangler, Madison Powell, Justus Hendrix, and Reagan Shelton.
“Our first team was such a fun group of kids,” said Dixon.
Now the program is in its third season and Dixon is still at the helm. “I love these kids. They are so fun to be associated with.”
Current team members are: Landon Nolan, Alan Soliday, Dylan Horton, Daniel Helton, Brantley Johnson, Maddie Smith, Dottie Barber, and Penny Spangler.
College bowling coaches are recruiting Alan Soliday and Landon Nolan, two of the three remaining members of the original team. Both consistently bowl in the 200’s.
The team has been well-received by parents and kids alike.
Jessica Horton, Team Mom and volunteer, said, “The Bowling Team gives non-ball (baseball, football and basketball) kids something to do at high school.”
Daniel Helton never really bowled until a few months ago. Helton boasts a high score of 150 in his brief tenure on the team.
Team member Maddie Smith said, “It is nice to get outside of your comfort zone.”
All agree about the best part of the team.
“I am on the team because it is like a new family. I am having fun and meeting new people,” said Penny Spangler.
“I wanted to try something new with my friends,” said Dottie Barber.
The team typically competes in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Team members both last year and this year were able to bowl against top talent in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“It was fun to meet new people and represent Powell County High School out of state,” said Dylan Horton.
Freshman Alan Soliday’s main activity is bowling. Last year as an eighth grader, Soliday finished in the top 5 bowlers in the State for middle school bowlers.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to bowl in high school,” said Soliday
In any event, the team keeps on bowling. “It has been a fun three seasons at Powell County,” said Dixon. “I, too, am grateful that the high school and School Board have allowed the program to flourish.”
The bowling team started from a friendship among coaches and has since grown to Powell County students finding new friends and new skills with the Powell County Bowling program.
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