Greetings TNBA Family,
Through my communications with bowling coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU,) several have expressed an interest in female & male bowlers out of the TNBA Junior Programs for their respective university’s bowling teams.
Listed below are the twenty eight HBCU schools and locations that offer women’s collegiate bowling and some of the requirements and expectations for their programs and various campuses that offer Male collegiate bowl. Each school is listed in conference order:
Women:
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – CIAA
Bowie State University Baltimore, MD
Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC
Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC
Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
Johnson C. Smith University Charlotte, NC
Livingstone College Salisbury, NC
Shaw University Raleigh, NC
Virginia State University St. Petersburg, VA
Virginia Union University Richmond, VA
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – MEAC
Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL
Coppin State University Baltimore, MD
Delaware State University Dover, DE
Florida A & M University Tallahassee, FL
Howard University Washington, DC
Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD
Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA
North Carolina A & T University Greensboro, NC
University of Alabama Birmingham Birmingham, AL
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD
Southwestern Athletic Conference – SWAC
Alabama A & M University Normal, AL
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL
Grambling State University Grambling, LA
Jackson State University Jackson, MS
Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TX
Southern A & M University Baton Rouge, LA
Texas Southern University Houston, TX
Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO
- A minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), some schools may require at least a 2.5 (GPA).
- A minimum qualifying score from either the ACT or SAT exam, each school has their own requirements.
- A current high school transcript (including 1st semester of their senior year is needed in most cases, unless the athlete signs a letter of intent during the November early signing period.)
- Before any athletic/academic scholarship can be offered, the bowler must receive a clearance from the NCAA Eligibility Center. This action must be initiated by her high school counselor.
- Most schools can offer a combination athletic/academic scholarship depending on the GPA and ACT or SAT scores.
- All schools have some type of strength and conditioning program. Yes, that will include weight lifting and cardio training.
- There is the potential for having up to 20 hours per week devoted to bowling activities. This will be far more extensive than your 3 game Saturday league and or Sunday travel league bowling.
- The bowlers MUST be coachable, have a positive attitude and have a passion for bowling!
- Coaches have different average expectations. The minimum average I have heard so far is 150. This is why a video of the bowler is crucial for the coach’s decision making process. Some suggestions from coaches that I have received in the past include, wear loose fitting clothing (no tight fitting jeans.) The video should capture front, back and both sides of the bowler. When shooting at spares, make sure you “follow the shot,” even if there is no doubt that you are going to make the spare. This shows attitude. Coaches want to see how you may react/respond to the pressure in the 10th frame of the Baker event as their anchor bowler and the match is on the line! Also, don’t be afraid to show your personality. You will have to interact with teammates on a daily basis.
Men:
Listed below are the colleges and universities that offer Male Collegiate Bowling. These schools are not listed in any particular order.
Blue Mountain University Blue Mountain, Mississippi
Calumet College Whiting, Indiana
Clarke University Dubuque, Iowa
Davenport University Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa
Hastings College Hastings, Nebraska
Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, Iowa
Highland Community College Freeport, Illinois
Illinois State University Normal, Illinois
Iowa Community College Fort Dodge, Iowa
Judson University Elgin, Illinois
Lincoln Memorial Harrogate, Tennessee
Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri
Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana
McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois
Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan
Minnesota State Mankato Mankato, Minnesota
Midland University Fremont, Nebraska
Morningside College Sioux City, Iowa
Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Neumann University Aston, Pennsylvania
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey
Notre Dame College Notre Dame, Indiana
Penn State University University Park, Pennsylvania
Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York
Rock Valley College Rockford, Illinois
Saginaw Valley State Saginaw, Michigan
St John’s University New York City, New York
William Patterson University Wayne, New Jersey
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, Keith Bridgeforth. I look forward to assisting our youth bowlers in obtaining scholarship information for collegiate bowling.
Keith R. Bridgeforth
TNBA Collegiate Program Director
keith.bridgeforth@tnbainc.org
bridgekr@aol.com
(651) 261-9365