FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2014

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

Wichita State Bowling Full Time Staff Increases by One: Shocker Alum Holly Harris Hired as Marketing, Development and Operations Coordinator

WICHITA, Kan. –– Positive changes, constant improvement and improved services for student-athletes has continually been a major goal in the Shocker Bowling Program at Wichita State University. With the hiring of Holly Harris (2010-2014), the premier collegiate bowling program in the world has once again taken a major step into the future. Ms. Harris, from Long Prairie, Minn., recently earned her undergraduate degree from Wichita State University and completed her senior year on the Shocker Women’s team.

Harris, a four-year starter for the Shockers, has an awesome resume both academically and athletically during her college career. During her four-year team role, the Lady Shockers amassed the highest winning percentage in Shocker Bowling history, with a first place victory happening an incredible 64% (30 1st places out of 47 tournaments) of the time, and a staggering 91.4% for team top three finishes (43 top three finishes out of 47 tournaments). Along the way, Harris was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American, an Academic All-American, a two-time Junior Team USA member and more recently a 2014 adult Team USA member. As a Junior Team USA member, Holly captured five Gold medals in the 2012 Tournament of Americas and is returning to the Tournament of Americas, next month, on adult Team USA to try to win more Gold for the USA.

“Speaking for our Coaching staff, Holly Harris has had the kind of college bowling career that only happens to student-athletes that want to pour their heart and soul into their classes and bowling. Holly has had excellence all over the place, with her classes, bowling - with Wichita State and Team USA, and truly personally. As good a student-athlete as she is, she is an even better person,” said Head Bowling Coach Gordon Vadakin.

Harris has been hired in a position of Marketing, Development and Operations Coordinator. Having done an exemplary job as a student employee the past two years in the Shocker Bowling Office, Holly has been able to showcase her increasing skill levels to all that she comes in contact with.

“Holly has been in the role of helping our prospective student-athletes, their parents and anyone else on the other end of social media, a cell phone, email or anything else, understand all that Wichita State University or Shocker Bowling Program has to offer,” stated Assistant Coach Mark Lewis. “Now her broader role will be doing more with marketing the program, working with our 50 year alumni bowler network and improving the program to far greater heights than anything previously attained”.

When asked what excites her about her new position, Holly said, “The most exciting part of the job is getting to stay involved with Shocker Bowling. I love this program. It has changed my life. To be able to come in everyday and share my love for this program and the sport of bowling is something I am very blessed to do”.

With a gorgeous new, state-of-the-art Shocker Lanes facility, new player locker room (50 feet from the lanes), new Champions Room for multiple team functions, brand new fully equipped Pro Shop, along with student intern work areas, coaches offices, enlarged program showcase (with displays of the 19 team and 7 individual National Championships), and beautiful office reception area – where Holly will be located - there certainly is a lot of outstanding things to market and promote. Along with the 2 ½ year, $33 million, renovation of the Rhatigan Student Center, which houses Shocker Lanes, Wichita State University is putting the finishing touches on an awesome new, 800-bed hall residence hall, aptly called Shocker Hall.

“Simply said, our University and bowling program is moving into a bright and exciting new future. Holly will be a huge part of that. She is so positive and cheerful. She is the kind of person that you just feel better being around,” Vadakin said.

Holly summed it up best when she said the following, “I will share my passion for the program with every person that walks through our office. I will do my best to assist the teams to make their road to a National Championship as easy as I can, whether that be planning and keeping things organized in the office for the coaches or recruiting the best talent out of high school. In the program, the coaches say you can never stop learning. I plan to keep learning and keep growing with the changes in college bowling and Wichita State University”.

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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.