FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2014

CONTACT:
Gordon Vadakin
Phone (316) 978-7655
Fax (316) 978-6056
email - shocker.bowling@wichita.edu
www.wichita.edu/bowling

From Black and Yellow to Red, White and Blue: Team USA Welcomes Shockers

WICHITA, Kan. – After an emotionally and physically exhausting week, two former Shockers and one current Shocker qualified for Team USA at the Team USA Trials 2014 held at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. from January 3th through the 8th.

All 172 male and 105 female participants bowled 30 games over 5 days on 5 different oil patterns. The event has an unorthodox format in which each player gains points for their placement each day. Point totals determine position in the standings throughout the week.

The top 3 men and women with the lowest point totals at the tournament’s conclusion earned their berth on Team USA. Stepladder finals determined the champions and who will represent Team USA at the Qubica AMF World Cup later this year.

Chris Barnes (89’-’92) and John Szczerbinski (’06-’09) bowled their way into the stepladder finals of the event. Eventually Barnes came out on top, earning his right to represent USA at the World Cup.

On top of the automatic spots available, a selection committee chose men and women for Team USA based on their performance and resume submissions. After her 7th, 17th, 10th and 64th place block finishes, senior Holly Harris earned one point for her first place finish in the final block of competition, moving her to 5th place in the event.

“I was okay for a little while after I finished bowling,” Harris said. “Once they began announcing names, my stomach sank.”

After the conclusion of qualifying, players waited, patiently or impatiently, for the stepladder and team announcements. For those in the hunt of a selection, the time between their last ball thrown and selection announcements felt like an eternity.

“I was shocked,” Harris said. “They announced my name and I couldn't breathe.”

Harris is the 24th Shocker to represent Team USA. Of the 45 Shocker bowlers who have qualified for Team USA or Junior Team USA, 34 of them came to WSU before qualifying for the national team.

Barnes, Harris and Szczerbinski join Shocker alumnus Nathan Bohr (’99-’03) and Geoffrey Young (’08-’12) on Team USA for 2014. Bohr and Young qualified for Team USA in the Summer Team USA Trials.

“A great work ethic is an essential part of being a Shocker bowler,” Head Coach Gordon Vadakin said. “It’s humbling to see athletes come to this program, improve, and qualify for their national team.”

Many current Shockers and Shocker alumni participated in the Team USA Trials.

In order of placement:

Men
Chris Barnes, 1st
John Szczerbinski, 2nd
Kris Prather, 11th
Michael Eaton, 15th
Zach Rhoades, 26th
Jake Peters, 30th
AJ Chapman, 33rd
Brandon Martin, 41th
Devin Bidwell, 44th
Miguel Lopez, 51st
Blake Demore, 54th
Roger Petrin, 75th
Christopher Colella, 87th
Josh Blanchard, 91st


Women
Holly Harris, 5th
Elysia Current, 7th
Kelsey Muther, 9th
Brianna Amidon, 45th

For more information about Team USA Trials, visit www.bowl.com/TeamUSATrials.

For more information about Shocker bowling, visit www.wichita.edu/bowling.


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The Rhatigan Student Center has been the major financial and administrative supporter of the Wichita State University bowling program since 1959.