Jason Gabak / Special to The Citizen

Taisey Orasi knows something about determination.

At age 6, Orasi was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and after treatment and surgery, her parents thought she was in the clear.

But when Orasi was 12, she had a relapse, which led to further treatment and ultimately, the removal of her leg.

“I have a prosthetic now,” Orasi, 15, said. “I had to learn how to walk again. It has taken the past two or three years, but I’m doing better now.”

The surgery limited her ability to participate many of the same activates as her peers, including sports.

But recently, Orasi decided to take another path to find an athletic outlet, a path that led her to Starlite Lanes, where for the past several months, Orasi has been bowling with her teammates in junior leagues.

Orasi said that when she was younger, she tried bowling but never got into it seriously.

“I’ve bowled before, with my family at birthday parties and things like that,” she said. “It is something I’ve always liked to do and it has always been fun.”

Before the season started this fall, several of Orasi’s neighbors approached her with the idea of joining a team at Starlite. Orasi immediately jumped at the chance.

“I just thought it would be fun and something different to do,” she said.

Joining with several of her friends who had already formed their own team, Orasi found the Saturday Morning League instantly inviting.

“I always had fun bowling with my family,” Orasi said. “But it is a lot more fun being a part of a team and bowling every week.”

Her prosthesis has helped give Orasi a greater range of mobility, but she said it’s still limiting when it comes to things like her approach. But with the encouragement and pointers from her teammates and coaches, Orasi has been finding a groove on the lanes.

“I’ve had to find my own way to do things,” Orasi said. “I can’t run up to the line. I stand up there and throw the ball from the line. But everyone has been really helpful, helping me know where to stand on the line and everything. I have to throw the ball a little different, but I’ve been finding my own technique.”

Gradually over the past few weeks, Orasi has found that her own unique approach is paying off, as her game improves each week.

“I got my first 96 last week,” Orasi said. “And that is a lot better than when I started. This year I want to get at least a 100. I think if I can do that it would be really good.”

After just a few weeks, Orasi can definitely see bowling being a part of her future.

“It is just a lot of fun,” Orasi said. “I like bowling and I like getting to bowl with my friends. I’d definitely like to keep doing this.”