Joke about the funny shoes all you want—students happily lace 'em up at the Union again this year. The popularity of the Union Sports Annex bowling leagues continues to soar. Each of the six leagues that the Annex offers are full again, continuing the four-plus year run of full bowling leagues.

"If you can get a good team of buddies together it's really a good time," said Chris Caparelli, senior in the College of Business.

Leagues are not designated as male or female. All leagues and teams are co-ed, which helps to enhance the social aspect of the leagues. With four people on a team and twelve teams in each league, bowling has become a social event at the Annex.

"We get a good mix of men and women in the leagues," said Brad Schloss, operations coordinator at the Annex. "Kids from all across the board, freshman to senior, come to the bowling leagues."

Most of leagues aren't that competitive, except for the rivalries some teams have developed with each other. The social atmosphere had led to the all types of participants in the league.

If you're worried you don't have enough experience to join the league, don't. Bowling experience isn't needed.

"People come in just for the fun atmosphere, not because they are great bowlers," Schloss said.

Leagues are available every night of the week, except for Saturday. League games start at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. on Fridays and 7 p.m. on Sundays. Costing $6 per person each week, the season began the second week of the semester and ends the week before finals.

The bowling leagues are full for this semester, but they will open up again in the spring. Interested participants shouldn't wait for the pin to drop though, as the returning teams are given preference. After that, it is a first-come, first-served basis to fill the remaining league openings.