Author Topic: Where to go for College Bowling (Read 694 times)

spmcgivern · « **on:** August 15, 2006, 01:50:54 AM »

I am going to be a senior this year and I have loved every bowling memory I have had associated with my school. We have qualified for sectionals every year I have been there and have faired decently overall, though maybe not to our potential.

We are also trying to establish a program that can become more competitive in the future and have some questions for those that have bowled collegiately or are considering bowling collegiately:

1. What determines whether or not you bowl or decided to bowl collegiately?

2. How much does a school's past performance play in the decision?

3. Are you willing to not travel with a good team and only participate for a couple of years or would you rather bowl every year on a mediocre team?

4. How much does the quality of education play?

5. How much does coaching play in the decision?

6. Anything else that plays into the equation?

I ask these questions because we have a unique situation and would like to better refine our efforts in getting students to come to our school to bowl. Even if you don't fall in the typical college category and would like to add your 2 cents, go ahead. The more the merrier.

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I am not a pro-bowler, but I do play one on BallReviews.com

WSUstroker · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2006, 02:03:34 PM »

1. What determines whether or not you bowl or decided to bowl collegiately?

This one is completely up to you. Do you have bowling schools in your area, or will you have to travel? Will it bother you to travel a longer distance to a school with bowling than go to one without?
2. How much does a school's past performance play in the decision?

Past team performances always play a part in choosing a school. Of course, almost everyone wants to go to a school like Wichita and bowl, not always an option of course.
3. Are you willing to not travel with a good team and only participate for a couple of years or would you rather bowl every year on a mediocre team?

Honestly, for me, I'd rather get my experience bowling a lot rather than only practicing and not traveling to tournaments. When I went to school, I didn't even know my school had a college team, guess I got lucky. The program is not that well known, but we do get decent funding to travel and I had more fun the past 4 years bowling in college than I would have had if I just practiced with the team did not travel to the tournaments.
4. How much does the quality of education play?
Considering you are a collegiate bowler, school should come first. Most school are going to have comparable education level in general, but the decision should have some basis on the precident of the program you want to enter. I would not recommend going to a school that doesn't have the program you are intersted in doing just for bowling.

5. How much does coaching play in the decision?

Once again, this plays into the individual. When I was in school, the coach tended to be the bowler who knew could offer the most help, which ended up being me for 3 years. If you are looking just to get better at bowling, then going to a school with a well known coach is a good thing.
6. Anything else that plays into the equation?

The biggest thing is choosing a school for the right reasons, and I really don't think choosing a program based on bowling team precident is the way to go. Money is obviously a huge factor for those who would be traveling a long ways to get to school and having to pay out-of-state tuition. You really cannot count on getting a bowling scholarship from the school as most are just club sports.

I didn't ask, but what program are you attending now, or did attend? I personally went to Winona State University.
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Dan Chambers
www.absolutebowling.com

Edited on 8/15/2006 2:08 PM

spmcgivern · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2006, 03:23:53 PM »

I bowl with Texas A&M and I have had a wonderful time bowling. I guess the only thing we are looking at is trying to get our name out as an option to some of the bowling dominated schools. Texas produces a lot of bowling talent and for some reason, the state only has 2 schools that I would say to be well run programs (West Texas and University of Houston). I still need to do some checking on rules and regulations with tryiing to "recruit" people who are up in the air on where they want to go to school.(doubt there aren't too many since we are club team)

I chose Texas A&M because of the education. I am a chemical engineer major and the engineering program at A&M is top notch. Bowling on the team was just gravy since I didn't know that they had a team. I hear a lot of larger schools are looking into having programs for women's collegiate bowling since it is NCAA. The Big 12 is looking/has looked at a women's program for the entire conference, but nothing has come of it yet.

Most of the questions were designed to get other peoples' decision making process when choosing a school and whether or not bowling played a factor in that decision at all. I have know bowlers who have gone to certain school because of scholarships (even though they are small), equipment, coaching, and prestige of program. I am trying to see what I am up against and try to figure out a way to sell what we have here at Texas A&M.

Thanks to all so far for the comments.... anyone else want to add something?
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I am not a pro-bowler, but I do play one on BallReviews.com

Author Topic: Where to go for College Bowling (Read 694 times)

spmcgivern

Where to go for College Bowling

WSUstroker

Re: Where to go for College Bowling

spmcgivern

Re: Where to go for College Bowling