UO Athletics' Best-Kept Secret: Bowling

OLIVET, Mich. — The University of Olivet has many respected and successful teams. Over the years, a number of Comet teams have found success on the court, field, or water, but one of the latest to find their lane is the Bowling team.

“I do (wish we got more attention) but at the same time I think we’re earning that,” said head men’s and women’s coach Brandon Grice.

The team has had much success so far this season, with multiple top-five placings and two wins.

They have also had four members of their team be named Comet of the Week, two from the men’s team and two from the women’s, with Ryen Grigg and Kory Nurse, and Adrianna Good and Hollie Wendel earning the respective honors for their teams in October.

“I think that I would say that this game is 90% mental and 10% physical, and the playing surface is constantly changing shot-by-shot, and we have to adjust to it correctly to be successful,” said sophomore Brody Louthan.

The team has had a successful start to the season with both the men’s and women’s teams winning the Maple City Classic and the Comet Classic. What many people might not realize is that college bowling isn’t as straight forward as they might think.

“College bowling isn't head-to-head match ups or games, but tournaments. There are two parts to bowling tournaments: Individual games and Baker games," sophomore Sydney Gallagher said. "Individual games are exactly how it sounds the five starting players bowl a full game but for a team total. While Baker games take five bowlers to complete one game, a bowler that bowls the first frame will also bowl the sixth, same with second and seventh and so on.”

According to the United States Bowling Congress, the Comets women's team is ranked No. 23 in the country and are making their presence known in the realm of collegiate sports.

“I do wish bowling got more attention because it is a sport that surprisingly has a lot of energy also bowling is a game of inches and precision, it takes practice to actually become good,” said Gallagher.

Both Comet teams will compete next on Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Adrian College Open at the Lenawee Recreation Center in Adrian.