UPDATED WITH STORY: Central Catholic's Boudreaux signs letter with Belmont Abbey

For Jolie Boudreaux, choosing Belmont Abbey as the next step on her educational journey was like picking up a two-pin spare.

"Belmont has a lot to offer for two important things in my life," Boudreaux said Friday. "My faith and my favorite sport, bowling."

Boudreaux, a senior member of Central Catholic High's bowling team, signed a letter of intent to attend and bowl for Belmont Abbey of Belmont, North Carolina. Friends and family members, including parents Kristi and Malachi Boudreaux of Morgan City, plus coaches Jason Price and Patrick Thibodeaux, gathered round the table set up Friday for the event.

Boudreaux is the second bowler from Central Catholic to move into the college ranks. Price's daughter Emily Price bowls for Alabama State.

Boudreaux got an early start in bowling.

"I used to bowl at birthday parties when I was very young," she said.

She joined the Central Catholic High team as a seventh grader. As a junior last year, she finished third among girls at the state tournament in Baton Rouge with games of 186, 210, 229 and 165, an average of 198.

After one match this year, her average is near the 210 mark.

"She's just a good, all-around student athlete," coach Thibodeaux said. "She helps carry the team and supports her teammates."

Now Boudreaux, who plans to study nursing, takes her game to the college level.

"The lanes are different," she said. "The atmosphere will be different. The people will be different. It'll be a lot of diversity I get to experience. ...

"I'm just very grateful for the opportunities I was given. I couldn't have done it without the support of my friends, family and coaches."