Bowls Canada Boulingrin (BCB) saw some fantastic bowls during this year’s outdoor competitive season, including a decorated up-and-coming young bowler from Alberta. After taking home gold medals at both the Youth and National Championships, we wanted to hear from Teryn Mitchell about her journey in Lawn Bowling, how she is breaking stereotypes in the sport, and her message for other young bowlers.
Who is Teryn?
- Name: Teryn Mitchell
- Age: 16
- Province: Alberta
- Home Club: Commonwealth Lawn Bowls Club
- Years playing Lawn Bowls: 5 years
2025 Championships Success!
In the 5 years that Teryn has been bowling, she has attended four National Championships! This year, Teryn saw success in both Youth and Majors, taking home four gold medals in the U18 Women’s Singles, Forster-Lang Pairs with Erik Galipeau, Women’s Triples with Alberta A, and Women’s Fours with Alberta A again.
Here is Teryn’s recap from this year’s Youth and Majors Championship: “I played in the youth U18 competition and I ended up finishing second, so I had to first play in the semifinals to get into the gold medal match. During the gold medal match [against Rebecca Coon], I ended up being down two in the tiebreaker. But I had to tie that up, which I managed thankfully! That put us into a tie breaker for the tie breaker, where I ended up hiding my bowl and the jack behind more of my bowls, winning me the gold medal! Derek Dillon told me he really liked that shot, so that was cool! I also played in the Forster-Lang pairs with Erik Galipeau, and we finished first in that as well.
And then during the adult nationals, I played in triples with Kiera Schaelow and Joanna Cooper. We went undefeated the entire time, which was really cool! I was expecting to lose at least one game, which is usually normal, but we didn’t! I played Vice in the triples. And then in the fours I played with Claire Day, Kiera Schealow, and Leona Hatton. We lost one or two games, but got gold in that as well! I remember now, we lost against Saskatchewan. I played Vice in that one too, which was pretty cool! They were a lot of fun to play with! Very helpful, very inspiring, and just really fun!”
When asked about her experience moving up from Youth to Majors and competing in a new championship, Teryn explained that she was hoping to have the opportunity to play at the Majors, and when she realized she would be able to compete, she was very happy for the chance and excited to play! She shared, “It was also a little bit overwhelming because there were so many more people there than at Youth. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a tournament with that many people in it, besides the Canadian Bowler Open, but it was really fun! There were a bunch of people that I already knew from Alberta, but everyone was welcoming and really nice!”
Interview Questions
1. If you could describe what Bowls means to you in one word, what would it be and why?
TM: Amazing! So, it’s a lot of fun. You get to meet new people. I guess, sociable would be another word to describe it!
2. How did you first get involved in lawn bowling?
TM: My Opa plays. He wanted someone to come play with him and be social with him and stuff. So, I ended up playing with him.
BCB: And how was that first experience playing with him?
TM: It was a lot of fun! I enjoyed it. It was difficult at first, but it was quick to catch on.
3. What is your favourite Bowls memory?
TM: Probably my first nationals. It was a lot to take in, but it was so much fun! Everyone was so nice and welcoming, and it was fun.
4. Do you remember what your first experience playing was like? What made you want to keep going?
TM: I remember it being overwhelming because there’s so many people. But like everyone was so nice so, it was easy to get into it! And then I liked how like it was a mental sport and how you were able to grow [as a bowler] like nonstop. There weren’t any limits to your capabilities. I liked that!
5. Many people may think of Bowls as a sport for older adults – what do you love about it as a young player?
TM: It’s a sport for all ages, which I don’t think a lot of people actually realize! You can start when you’re eight and you can go to your nineties, which is really nice. You can also keep progressing, you can keep getting better, which a lot of people like doing!
And it’s something that you can do even if you’re in school because it’s during the summers! Which is sometimes a thing that people struggle with trying to balance school and social life and other stuff.
6. You’ve achieved some incredible success at such a young age, including four medals at the 2025 Youth and Majors Championships — what have been some of your proudest moments so far?
TM: This year there was a whole bunch of new people, and it wasn’t quite as easy for them to get into it. So, I’m pretty proud of myself for helping them smooth in a bit – being welcoming – especially because it was at my home club. I’d say that’s a pretty proud moment!
BCB: Anything from past seasons that come to mind when you think about successes?
TM: Probably my first nationals. I wasn’t expecting to win a game, let alone medal, so I was pretty proud about that!
7. What kind of training or practice routine do you follow to compete at this level and achieve the success you had this past August at the Youth and National Championships?
TM: I think I might’ve come out [to the greens] more. I was out a lot last year, but I think I was out more this year practicing and playing and especially playing with the adults and people with different skill levels. That really helps because you can improve, you can challenge yourself and grow. And that’s pretty useful! Other than that, I don’t think I really changed much besides coming out more.
BCB: And any tips and tricks you would like to share with either non bowlers or current bowlers that has helped you this year or throughout the years?
TM: Finding a coach that fits with you and practicing as much as you’re able to while still balancing like the rest of your life. You don’t want to practice too much, but you still want to practice. Finding that balance is key!
8. Are there any mentors, teammates, or coaches who have really inspired or supported you along the way?
TM: Charlie Taylor was one of them. He’s one of my main coaches at the moment. We played mixed pairs together and he helps a lot, which is nice. And he is able to give advice – pretty much whenever you want!
Nathan Findlay, he’s also really helpful! He was out at most of the meetings and coaching sessions. He helped do drills and teach stuff like some of the higher level drills that he does.
And then Kiera Schaelow – she had been playing for a while when I started and she was one of the main people I looked up to, to try and get better.
Photo details: We had hand symbols that we had for each bowl. I was a butterfly, Kiera was a thumbs up, and then we did a claw for Joanna. It was really fun!
9. Who inspires you most – in bowls or outside of it?
TM: Probably Charlie Taylor again and Joanna Cooper. They’re both really fun to play with, they help while you’re playing, and they’re really inspirational to watch!
10. What have you learned about yourself through competing in bowls?
TM: I’m much more sociable on the green than I am in real life. I’d say that I’m fairly competitive (the good kind of competitive). I didn’t realize I was competitive until I played the game!
11. How has Bowls impacted your life outside the sport?
TM: I’m learning how to talk to people more easily in school and work better in groups. I’m rather introverted outside of lawn bowls, so it was useful in getting me out of my bubble and talking to people other than my friends. I’m making more friends now than I had, which is cool!
12. Where do you see yourself in the next few years? Do you have any long-term goals, like competing internationally or coaching someday?
TM: I am really hoping to get into the U25 Worlds or like the Commonwealth Games in the future! I’m also just hoping to inspire other young lawn bowlers and get more people into the sport because we don’t have very many youth playing.
BCB: Is there anything you’re doing right now to work towards those goals? Or is there anything shorter-term that you’re trying to achieve as well? TM: Get better consistency, which is something that has been brought up a few times. As well as posting more about it [Lawn Bowls] and getting my name out there so other people are inspired.
13. What is it about Bowls that keeps you excited to play? What motivates you?
TM: Just the ability to get better at playing and improve. Also, making friends like the friends I have at Nationals also motivates me. Seeing them [at] each nationals helps to motivate me to be the best I can, so I can see them at the nationals [each year]!
14. What would you say to others who might be curious but think bowls isn’t “their” sport?
TM: It’s a sport that requires fairly minimal physical action, which a lot of people who aren’t into sports, enjoy. I was able to get a couple of my friends into it because of that!
And you can play for as long as you want! Pretty much like there’s no limit to how old or young you have to be to play besides being able to hold a bowl, which is pretty cool!
You can travel as well, which a lot of young people enjoy!
15. Finally, what message do you want to share with other young athletes who might be thinking about giving Lawn Bowls a try?
TM: Keep playing and keep trying to improve! Keep trying your hardest because competitive playing can be really fun as long as you find the one that fits for you (like pairs or singles). Some people don’t want to play by themselves, so you can go into Bowls as a group sport or play [together]! It’s really nice being able to choose which one you want to or which one you are better at!
You can also make so many different friends and meet so many different people! So that’s really nice and great for younger people!
There are so many benefits of the youth playing with the adults and the seniors. It really helps build confidence and the adults and seniors really seem to enjoy playing with the younger kids. I’m not sure how it is in other provinces, but youth and adult programs aren’t separated at all here. We just don’t have as big of a youth program here. We can go and join whatever leagues we want. We have an agreement, for Edmonton at least, that if the youth signs up in one club, they can play at any of the clubs in the surrounding area. So that’s pretty helpful because then you can go and play in their tournaments and events!
BCB would like to congratulate Teryn on her success in this year’s Bowls season, as well as would like to thank her for sharing her experience in bowls with us.
We look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the coming years and how you continue to help shape the sport of Lawn Bowling!
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