Going to school: Corey Walls, Westerville Central

Age: 17

Class: Junior

Grade-point average: 3.2

Sport: Bowling

College choice: Has visited Belmont, and plans more visits to other colleges. Plans to major in music

 Question: You had infant leukemia. (Walls had a bone marrow transplant in 1997)

Answer: I was 10 months old. … I had a relapse with leukemia when I was 2 years old. I’ve been fine ever since. I had to undergo chemotherapy. You name it, I’ve done it. We were in and out of the hospital.

 Q: But it eventually cost you your left leg. When did you undergo amputation and why did it have to happen?

A: It was July 18 last summer. The break (caused because the bone was so brittle after the leukemia) occurred during a football game when I was marching with the band. I felt a pop, but I just kept going because I wanted to complete our show. It got worse. I never felt that much pain in the foot.

 Q: Coach Julie Wells said you didn’t come back to school until mid-October, but that you had tutors coming to your home.

A: Correct. I had a homebound instructional tutor, Tammy Ulliman, come in every other day, and an Algebra II tutor, Jeff Aquillo. At first, doctors told me I could possibly be back in mid-November. I came back five weeks early, but only part time. I’d go to class five periods before having to leave for physical therapy.

 Q: Those months before and after the amputation had to be hard.

A: It was hard keeping up with school. It was hard coming back to a social environment. That was such a transition to make. I missed so much school, and I had no clue what to do at first. I would miss two classes in a course, and that built up as far as getting behind. I had to drop an English course because of the amount of writing that was involved. I would have failed.

 Q: Have you proved something to yourself getting through this?

A: I’m walking again, and there is not much pain. There is still the desire to have my leg so people won’t stare. I’d like to walk normally, but I’m doing what I have to do.

 Q: How has your bowling been affected?

A: I have to think about the foot and where it’s going to be at all times. There is no more muscle memory. The shoe has to be on correctly and planted just right. I have to watch my step and not swing the leg or I will lose my balance. There are balance issues all the time. This has taken my game down. I was averaging 180 before the surgery. Now, I’m at 130. I keep pushing myself. I want to bowl as if I still have my leg.

 Q: Coach Wells said you caught everyone by surprise showing up for practice on Oct. 16.

A: There was some surprise. It was just good to be back with the team. This team means a lot to me.

 Q: Tell us about marching band. You play the sousaphone for a competition band.

A: I do plan on marching next fall. I went to an Ohio State game, and I thought dotting the “I” would be perfect. That’s why I play sousaphone. They weigh 35 to 40 pounds. It takes time to get used to the instrument because your vision is not like everyone else’s. You have to keep the bell straight up. You get pretty tired after (a routine).

 Q: You also play guitar?

A: For sure, I play electric and acoustic guitar. Guitar has been a highlight of my life. I can play anything: funk, jazz, metal, rock and classical. I play at home (and loud). Sometimes I’ll just keep playing and forget about the time. That’s how much I get into it.

 Q: Are you back in the swing at school?

A: It’s getting a lot better. I needed to be in the loop and used to the schedule from the start. I have had to catch up.

 Q: Choosing a college is difficult enough. Is it going to be hard to find the right school for music?

A: There are a good amount of schools for music. I haven’t looked hard yet. I really like Belmont. It’s in Nashville. … Sound is everything to me. I’m intrigued by how sound can be worked to express an emotion. There could be songwriting in my future.

 Q: You are on the junior varsity because of what happened. Are you going to be OK watching the state bowling tournament this weekend and not playing?

A: I’ll be fine with that. It is going to mean the world to me being able to watch my teammates. I will talk to them and wave to them. I want to be there for them.

 Q: Teammates surprised you with a black and silver T-shirt that reads “Westerville Central Bowling Doesn’t Cost You an Arm and Leg Unless Your Name is Corey.”

A: Oh, yes, they sure did surprise me with the shirt. Mary Wells and Justin Kennell, who bowled for us last year, designed the shirt. That was nice.

 Q: Westerville Central is a state bowling power and making the team is hard, right?

A: It is hard to make this team. The great part is we’re a family. I’ve never felt closer to a group of people, and that includes band. Band is great, too. The bowling team is like family.

— Mark Znidarmznidar@dispatch.com @MarkZnidar