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Issue date: 3/14/05 Section: features

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For anyone interested in bowling, a group of students gets together once a week for the club VUBowl, and heads to a local bowling alley to play a
few games. Some are more interested in the sport than others, and there are also varying degrees of talent. Surprisingly, there are quite a few who have been playing for years. They come with their own equipment, work on diff erent techniques, and throw more strikes in one game than many average bowlers have ever thrown.

Bowling may seem to be reserved as a social activity, but the sport
itself has many participants. In fact, one big change at Vanderbilt this year is the addition of a female varsity bowling team. Many of the women that had been bowling in the club, as well as others who were interested, are now able to play a sport for Vanderbilt and travel to competitions. Other perks of being an athlete include meal plans, equipment and uniforms, facilities at McGugin Center, and, of course, many hours of bowling.

Coach John Williamson, formerly with Vanderbilt's baseball team, was the coach chosen for the new varsity team. Along with bowling for over ten years, he has an understanding of NCAA regulations and the organization of a team. The inception of the varsity team came about after a change in NCAA rules that required schools to have sixteen varsity teams. This being Vanderbilt's fi rst year with a varsity bowling team, the group has gone to many tournaments and gained a lot of experience. "Our team average per game has gone up by over one hundred pins," Williamson said. This is exciting for Vanderbilt's prospects in the future. Other schools might have had bowling teams for a longer time, but the NCAA tournament is only in its second year. Vanderbilt's team could serve as a serious contender.

In addition to Vanderbilt's prospects is the recruiting achieved by the mere existence of the bowling team. Williamson states that girls have already contacted him, showing an interest in attending Vanderbilt and being on the team: "Vanderbilt is the only top-twenty school with a bowling team, and girls have been contacting me about the opportunity to play for Vanderbilt. So far, the team has been recruiting itself." This off ers a great opportunity for allowing students to come to Vanderbilt on athletic scholarships that might not have otherwise been able to. As an added bonus, Vanderbilt's status as a school can draw out the best talent. The creation of the team was a great way to put the talents of students where it could be used, gain some visibility for Vanderbilt in a smaller sport, and attract new potential students

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