Bowling is all about the long game. The regular season lasts from October through March, with postseason tournaments pushing into April. Unlike other NCAA sports teams, who typically play only regionally during the regular season, bowlers may travel throughout the country to play against others in their division. Tournaments last not just for entire days, but entire weekends.

And with only five starters selected per team match, that means a lot of work for just a few young women.

Sometimes just one player and one pin can determine the outcome of a match. As you set up and stride forward, one wrong move in your delivery could result in a foul (stepping over the line), a gutterball, or too few pins knocked down.

So while the stress might not be the same a starting quarterback's in the Rose Bowl, the pressure and intensity put on each individual player can still be overwhelming. More than anything, you'll need the mental toughness to get you breathing and concentrating through the final frames.

In order to make the most out of those tournaments, top-level collegiate bowlers practice in the lanes for about two hours every day, throwing between 300 to 500 shots in a single practice (source). Coaches drill lane patterns, spares, strikes, spares, release techniques, spares, and they throw in a little spare practice while they're at it. Players also train with weights and aerobic exercise when they're not on the lane, you know, throwing spares.

And don't forget: you're not just in college to bowl. You're also there to get a degree, which means plenty of classes and studying on top of your practices.