You know what they say, “Iron sharpens Iron”. To become the best of the bests, bowlers need to go to colleges specializing in bowling and get the top level of coaching from the best athletes and coaches.
If you’re getting more competitive with every season, and have a really good career by far, you might consider going to one of the top-ranked Division 1 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) schools for further education and more in-depth training in bowling. Here, I have ranked some of the top 10 best bowling colleges or universities So why don’t you take a look at some of the best colleges for bowling?
Top Colleges For Bowling
1. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Whiting, IN)
Calumet College of St. Joseph, also known as the Calumet College, is a private Roman Catholic college situated in Whiting, Indiana. The athletic teams of CCSJ are called Crimson Wave. The bowling teams of CCSJ participate the competitions in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). Their team from the 2009-10 school year finished second in the nation at USBC Collegiate Championships. Since then, CCSJ holds a great reputation for bowling. Later in 2016, the bowling team progressed even more and ranked first in the USA for winning the USBC Collegiate Championships.
2. Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO)
Lindenwood University is a private university located in St. Charles, Missouri. Lindenwood also achieved great success for its spectacular performance in bowling. As a female bowler, you might consider joining this school to become a part of their glorious team. Their women’s bowling team has won the national USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships back in 2018. The competition took place in Lincoln, Nebraska where they defeated McKendree University in the final round. The athletic department of this school has a Sports Hall of Fame where all the former student-athletes and contributors are being honored for their careers and contribution since 2007.
3. University of Tennessee Southern (Pulaski, TN)
Formerly known as the Martin Methodist College, the University of Tennessee Southern is a public college that is located in Pulaski, Tennessee. Their athletic teams are known as the FireHawks. You may have heard about the RedHawks which is the name they used to go by before the UT system merger. Out of all the 19 men’s sports, UT Southern has bowling and they have a really good team. In February 2020, the team ranked 11 according to the Online Team Ranking System. Currently, this college is one of the members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
4. McKendree University (Lebanon, IL)
Now comes one of my favorite Bowling schools— McKendree University which is a private university situated in Lebanon, Illinois. They always had a great reputation in bowling for their brilliant teams called Bearcats. Thankfully, they have both male and female bowling teams that receive intense training for their career in this sport. On July 12, 2010, McKendree University became a member of the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. Throughout 2020, McKendree University held a high spot when it came to ranking. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams are close to CCSJ’s rank.
5. Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university located in East Lansing, Michigan. Their bowling athletic teams are known as MSU Spartans. The bowling teams are divided in 4 categories— Varsity Men, Varsity Women, Junior Varsity Men, and Senior Varsity Women. So anyone can enroll this university and become a part of the glorious MSU Spartan bowling team. The rec room has 6 bowling lanes and experienced bowling instructors to always help bowler-students with skill development and teach them new techniques.
6. Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY)
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the 10th largest private university in the USA. It is located in the town of Henrietta which is in the Rochester, New York, metropolitan area. So if you’re planning to be a New Yorker, getting into this university is a great start. The RIT Bowling Club is very competitive and has won many competitions over the years. It is stated on the official website that the RIT Bowling club is made up of two components. One is a highly competitive team, where members are taught different bowling strategies to be better. They need this to compete in more serious tournaments. The second element is a casual club, where the members are regular RIT students and they just bowl for fun. RIT welcomes all kinds of bowlers with all kinds of skill levels!
7. St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA )
St. Ambrose University is a Catholic private institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The university is known for having one of the strongest athletic departments with 28 intercollegiate varsity sports. This includes Men’s and Women’s bowling. The university claims that they have some potential future professional bowlers enrolled. So if you want your bowling career to the next phase, become a proud member of St. Ambrose University bowling teams. In February 2020, the team ranked 8 according to the Online Team Ranking System.
8. Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
Wichita State University (WSU) is a public research university situated in Wichita, Kansas. Wichita has earned great prestige for its top-notch bowling teams which are known as Shockers. Everyone knows how strong their athletic department is. The good news is that they have both men’s and women’s bowling teams. So anyone is welcome to be a part of their glory. Both the men’s and women’s bowling teams have participated in and won numerous USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. Some of the notable wins are— the 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2010 titles (men) and the 2005, 2007, and 2009 titles (women).
9. Webber International University (Babson Park, FL)
The Webber International University (Webber or WIU) is one of the top private universities that are in Babson Park, Florida, best known for being active in athletics. They call their sports team Warriors. This college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They have both men’s and women’s bowling teams which are great! Professional bowlers, such as— Verity Crawley who is a professional bowler in the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA), Gary Faulkner Jr. who is a professional ten-pin bowler who competes on different PBA Tours, and Daria Pająk who is also a pro-ten-pin bowler in Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA).
10. Wright State University (Dayton, OH)
Wright State University is a promising public research university located in Fairborn, Ohio. Their athletic teams are called Wright State Raiders. The university is currently participating in a total of ten sports, and one of them is bowling. They play at the Division-I level of the NCAA. Moreover, WSU is also a member of the Horizon League. They have also won numerous competitions and so if you want to enroll in this university, you will have a great opportunity to learn more about bowling and build a career out of it.
Honorable Mentions
There are some more colleges for bowling that you can choose from. You can always go to their designated website and learn more about the universities you’re interested in. William Paterson University, St. John’s University, Savannah Art and Design, Lincoln Memorial University, Marian University, Lawrence Technological University, Mount Mercy University, Newman University, Midland University, etc.
Conclusion
There you go, fellas! If you have recently graduated from high school and are also a bowler, one of these universities might be just for you. A great school can shape your career further down the line. So choose wisely, do your research, and see what’s the best college for bowling for you. Good luck and never stop bowling!
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
