Each year, many talented bowlers earn spots on collegiate teams in the United States. Yet many others with similar potential - or even bigger - never make that move. That’s unfortunate, because often the issue isn’t skill, but a lack of know-how.
Many young players, especially international ones, simply don’t realize that college bowling is an option for them as well, or they don’t know how the process works or where to begin.
Fortunately, there are examples of those who have made that path successfully.
Not that long ago, I watched French U21 national champ Yaari Lapid bowling in BowlingGP tournaments in France. Today, he competes for Wichita State University, one of the most prestigious collegiate bowling programs and a proven pathway for future professional bowlers.
In our latest interview, we talked about the challenging path to joining a U.S. college bowling program, how recruitment works, and what bowlers should know before considering the move.
From Europe to Wichita State
19-year-old Yaari Lapid, from Paris, France currently studies International Business at Wichita State University, one of the most recognized collegiate bowling programs in the United States. For him, the decision to move across the Atlantic was driven by a long-term dream of becoming a professional bowler.
Wichita State has long been known for developing elite players and national champions like Kris Prather, Packy Hanrahan, Ryan Barnes, or recent PBA Players Championship winner Brandon Bonta, so the opportunity to train alongside top athletes played a major role in Lapid’s decision.
“I chose Wichita State because the coaches are absolutely amazing and full of knowledge. And the players are Junior Team and Team USA members, so they have experience and practicing with them makes you learn a lot.”
Recruitment Process for International Bowlers
For the 19-year-old, the road to Wichita State was a long one, demanding not only desire, but also determination and patience.
Unlike many other NCAA sports, collegiate bowling on the men’s side does not always follow a traditional recruitment system. Instead, international bowlers often need to take the initiative themselves.
“There is not really a recruitment process on the men’s side because we are not NCAA, so I contacted the coaches of a few schools almost two years prior to my arrival and I also came on a visit to Wichita State University.”
According to Lapid, the process itself is manageable, but choosing the right school can be the real challenge.
“The process is not particularly difficult but the choice of where to go can be tricky depending on what you are looking for, whether it’s bowling level, academic level, the amount of scholarship money you can get and even whether or not you get a guaranteed spot on the team roster.”
He also strongly recommends visiting schools before committing, to feel the atmosphere, see the city you will live in, and meet the personnel.
“I also recommend visiting some schools here. It will give a better idea of the area you are in and allow you to get to know the coaches, players and the environment better.”
Understanding the Collegiate Bowling Season
The collegiate bowling season is divided into two main parts: the regular season and the postseason championships.
During the regular season, programs compete in tournaments throughout the academic year. Which events a team attends often depends on the school’s schedule and competitive strategy.
“There is a certain number of tournaments the school has to bowl in order to be eligible for Nationals. Some schools decide to bowl more tournaments and some only do the minimum required,” Lapid said.
The postseason begins with regional qualification events known as Sectionals, where teams compete for spots at the national championships.
“Post-season is basically Sectionals, regional qualification with four regions where the top teams advance. Same for singles.”
At the end of the season, the best collegiate teams in the country advance to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, the most prestigious event in college bowling. The tournament features the top 16 men’s and top 16 women’s teams in the nation competing for national titles. Teams reach the championships through sectional qualifiers held across four regions of the United States.
Alongside the team event, USBC also hosts the Intercollegiate Singles Championships, which determine the individual national champions. Bowlers qualify through the same sectional events before advancing to the national finals.
The competition format itself is also unique compared to most international tournaments.
“The format for almost all events is 5–6 traditional games of 5-man on Saturday. Then Sunday it’s 16 Baker games, four blocks of four games, on four different pairs. Then it’s the top 8 that advance to a match play eliminator bracket, usually best 2 out of 3 or best 3 out of 5, to determine the champions.”
Advice for International Bowlers Considering the Move
For young bowlers thinking about pursuing collegiate bowling, Lapid emphasizes preparation and early communication with coaches.
“If any young European bowler wants to bowl collegiately in the US, they should start contacting coaches a year or two prior to their arrival so that they have enough time to discuss everything, mainly because coaches are busy during the season.”
Lapid also recommends researching programs carefully and making sure the environment fits both academically and athletically.
“They should scout schools where either the bowling team is strong or the academic program they want is well structured. They should start preparing at least a year before they come so they can understand the practicing rhythm.”
When asked what mistakes future collegiate bowlers should avoid, Lapid pointed out that collegiate athletics in the United States demands a high level of commitment.
“A mistake to avoid is thinking Americans do not take it seriously. They are very serious about collegiate sports. Although college can be a fun experience, college sports are very demanding.”
At the same time, he encourages future players to consider the lifestyle aspect as well.
“Second, not checking whether the place you are moving to has things to offer, like places to go out or spend time with friends. If there is nothing to do, you might get bored unless you truly don’t care about that.”
