Wichita State’s Bowling Teams Consistently Emerge as Top in the Nation
Published Aug 17, 2009
The Wichita State women’s bowling team huddles prior to winning its eighth national championship.
Wichita State University’s bowling program has a reputation of global pro portions. Timur Madaminov‚ an 18-year-old Russian student and mem ber of Russia’s Youth National bowling team‚ says he knew Wichita State was the place to come to pursue his goals – among them‚ a business degree and growth as a sportsman through the Shocker bowling program.
Apparently‚ a lot of people agree with him. Some 50-plus students from 20 states and several countries come to WSU every year to vie for a spot on the elite men’s and women’s bowling teams.
And no wonder. The Shockers are the best in the country‚ with 15 National Championships and consistent top poll ratings to prove it.
Since the national tournament began in 1975‚ the Shocker men’s team has earned seven national championships. The Shocker women garnered their eighth championship in April 2007.
The women’s team has ranked in the top 10 in every national poll for 28 years running‚ and the men have ranked No. 1 an impressive 38 times. Their records stand unmatched among U.S. collegiate teams.
In addition‚ six National Bowlers of the Year and 159 All-Americans have come out of the Shocker bowling program. Twenty-five of the school’s bowlers have gone to international competition with Team USA.
Bowlers at WSU encounter compe tition for a spot on the team long before going up against another school. About 65 students try out annually‚ including past team members‚ who must try out each year‚ says coach Gordon Vadakin.
Those who don’t make it can partic ipate in the skills development program. Its rigorous classes and training ensure that aspiring players gain “the resources to be able to contend for a spot on the selected team‚” Vadakin says.
Every athlete must commit to learning and hard work‚ anchors of the Shocker bowling program philosophy.
“It’s pretty simple‚ really‚” Vadakin says. “We have a highly educational bowling program. We teach a lot. Players at an elite level have a lot to learn to be able to compete successfully. It’s no coincidence that the best students we have make the best bowlers‚ and vice versa. We feel that success in the classroom translates to success in the lanes. And it’s well known that if you want to bowl at this school‚ you’d better be interested in working hard.”
The Shocker program is good bowling and good business. Its charted economic impact for the 2006-07 academic year – from things like media exposure‚ out-of-state tuition and sold-out summer bowling camps for up-and-coming athletes – totaled $2.5 million.
Ultimately‚ Shocker success has helped collegiate bowling everywhere. “Someone has to get out front and figure things out‚” Vadakin says. “In the beginning‚ we were that program. What we’re trying to do now is continue to evolve‚ not sit back and rest.”
Story by Carol Cowan
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