Striking Success: Arianna Clayton Finds Her Lane at Bowie State

When Bowie State's women's bowling team delivered a strong performance at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championship last March, All-CIAA honoree Arianna Clayton led the charge.

The rising junior had a team-high 186 pinfalls in her very first match, helping the Bulldogs finish runner-up after six competitive games.

Clayton has deep roots in the sport.

"Bowling has been part of my life since childhood, when I joined a summer league with my father."

Her early start immersed her in Maryland's youth bowling scene, including year-round leagues, tournaments and eventually exposure to college programs. When it came time for Clayton to consider attending a university, she was clear on what she wanted from the experience.

"I knew I wanted an HBCU with a women's bowling team, and I had two choices: Prairie View A&M University in Texas, or Bowie State. I had been scouted by one of Bowie State's bowling coaches, and he encouraged me to visit to see if the university was for me."

Her tour of BSU's campus and what she observed sealed the deal.

"I loved the close-knit feel, the walkable layout and the energy at the Student Center. Everything looked and felt like a family at Bowie State. I could sense how everybody knows each other."

Once she arrived, her freshman year as a student-athlete didn't disappoint.

"I really loved it and made a smooth transition to Bowie. My classes and professors were welcoming, and the bowling team and coaches were really close-knit. If we ever needed anything, the older players were supportive and made sure everyone knew that we were just a text away from each other. That really set me up for success."

Her first year results prove her point. Clayton won every individual high-average title and earned high-game honors at every CIAA bowling event in which she competed.

Although the sport of bowling is a major part of Clayton's path to Bowie State, she didn't follow a traditional lane.

"I was homeschooled from third grade on, so I grew up outside the typical rhythms of school life. Being part of a bowling league helped me get involved in a culture."

Her first roommate, Harmony Manzie, is also a bowling teammate, and they have shared the student-athlete journey together. Clayton says they have become best friends.

"Once you go in together, you're locked in - in a good way."

While bowling has shaped Clayton's past and present, her data science major shapes her future.

Clayton values the organizational and analytical side of the field, especially business analytics. She enjoys coding and is interning this summer with the Department of Athletics.

"I'm analyzing performance statistics for sports teams across campus. At the end of the summer, I'll give the data to the coaches to help them see where they're at as a team, and where they need improvement."

Clayton is also participating in Bowie State's semester-based undergraduate research institute, where she hopes to be paired with a professor whose work aligns with her interests in data science. She is active in Women in Computer Science, Data Tribe - Bowie State's community for data enthusiasts - and the CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she helps vote on potential CIAA rule changes.

Off campus, Clayton works as a team lead at Chick-fil-A, which she says has been incredibly supportive of her college education, even awarding her a scholarship.

Among her favorite faculty so far is Loubna Dali in the Department of Computer Science. Clayton praised her for being supportive, flexible and deeply committed to student success.

"If you don't understand something, she'll take time to explain it to you. I appreciate her technical leadership in the classroom."

Arianna Clayton embodies what it means to be bold, focused and fully engaged in the Bulldog community. When collegiate bowling season begins this October, keep an eye on Clayton and her teammates. Together, they are on a roll.