An added bonus, he jokes, is "you can beat older people."
Mitchell plays at least four times a week and in competitions and tournaments at weekends.
He started bowling three years ago and has since become Southland Secondary Schools lawn bowls champion (2006-08) and been included in the Southland men's development team (2007-08).
When the New Zealand bowls team visited Southland last year, Mitchell played pairs with top New Zealand men's singles player Ali Forsyth.
"I did drills with the team and almost beat Gary Lawson, the player who has won the most New Zealand titles. It was really good for my development and I couldn't believe how aggressive the top players' style was."
Mitchell is also proud of recently passing a first-year University of Otago theology paper on early church history.
Achievements: Cultural captain for Finlay House (2008); peer mediator; Christian service group member; Health Committee member; (2008); Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition national finalist (2007); 1st XV (2007-08); Spirit of Adventure (2007); Duke of Edinburgh award bronze (2007); University of Canterbury economics (2008); Year 12 school accounting prize (2007); New Zealand secondary school lawn bowls championship 7th and plate winner (2007); Zone 6 secondary school lawn bowls champion (2007-08); I-future Southland sports awards recipient (2007); Outward Bound (2008).
Role model: "Terry McKenzie, a Riversdale club member who has also represented Southland's senior team. He has been very helpful in telling me what I need to improve on."
Hopes for the future: "To study law and commerce at the University of Otago. This year I would like to win the New Zealand Secondary Schools lawn bowls championships."