What You Might Not Know About NCAA Bowling
Realistically speaking, not many people are aware bowling is anything more than just a fun Friday night with friends. What if I told you, that bowling is actually a highly competitive collegiate sport? Not many people know that, but here are 4 things you might not have know about it.
1. Division doesn't matter
I think a big misconception with college athletics is that people care too much about whether the school is ranked DI, DII, or DIII. One of the greatest things about bowling is that IT DOESN'T MATTER!!
In the March 2021 National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, the #1 team is McKendree University, which is an NCAA DII school. On top of that, in the top 25 schools ranked, five more schools are ranked that are within the DII and DIII rankings.
Being able to compete against schools of any division creates a unity within the sport and makes the experience of competing just that much more competitive and invigorating.
2. Intensity
When you think of bowling does the word intensity come to mind? To most people it doesn’t, but if you’re a bowler you know that when a match comes down to a 10th frame roll off it’s just as intense as that moment when a basketball player makes the last shot with no time left on the clock.
Or how about splits? Have you ever made a 2–4–8–10? The chances of making it aren't high, neither is getting a grand slam, but in bowling its the same equivalent.
Cheering is also such an unknown concept to most. While yes all sports have some kind of cheering to root on their team or player, the majority of bowling teams have such unique and individual cheers for a spare, split conversion or strike. If you stepped foot in collegiate bowling tournament you would be amazed at how loud it can actually be, with each shot one step closer to victory, you might not be able to hear every individual cheer a team may have.
There are so many intense moments during bowling, from the first frame to the tenth, from an athlete perspective, you could almost say that every shot is just as intense as that game winning buzzer beater.
3. Training
Yes….we still have strength training just like every other sport. Do you know how many times someone has looked at me when I mention how we have 7am workouts?
How do you even workout for bowling?
Why do you even need to workout for bowling?
Literally, yes, just like any other sport, you need to train. The goal isn't always about knocking down the most pins, it’s how can you constantly knock down the most pins and that is something you really can’t do without strength.
4. Scholarships
We also get paid to bowl just like every other sport.
Unlike other sports, bowlers can get paid from both the NCAA and the United States Bowling Congress, USBC, which awards over $6 million to associations, certified tournaments, and bowling associations every year. The amount of money bowlers can earn from doing youth tournaments prior to college to upwards to thousands of dollars.
On top of that, the NCAA gives DI and DII programs 5 full scholarships for women’s bowling, which is usually divided up by coaches to recruit more talent and help pay for college along with USBC scholarships.
Never thought you could actually get paid for that Friday night fun did you?
