FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2015

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

WICHITA, Kan. – Just nine days after his first Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tour title at the Brunswick Euro Challenge, Shocker alum Josh Blanchard (’08 – ‘10) took home the PBA Main Shootout title in Portland, Maine only one week ago.

The Maine Shootout consisted of a 64-player best-of-three-game single-elimination bracket. Blanchard's second title came after defeating this star-studded bracket filled with players like Wes Malott, Jason Sterner, Bryon Smith, Osku Palermaa and Jason Belmonte.

In his first match versus Malott, Blanchard found himself behind after the first game. He then fired games of 258 and 256 and never looked back, averaging 235.57 for his 14 games in match play.

Blanchard's opponent in the second match, Greg Ostrander, could not hold on as Blanchard continued his roll with games of 248-178 and 196-139.

The round of 32 match ended in another 2-0 victory against Jason Sterner, making that three 2-0 victories in a row. He wasn't done yet either.

He then eliminated Smith 2-0 with games of 257-257 and powered through Palermaa with 255-245.

"I just decided to stop trying to hook the ball," Blanchard said in a PBA News Release. "I decided I just don't have the ball rotation to hook the ball with these guys, so I went back to playing it straight, and I think I'll keep doing it for a while."


Blanchard's new strategy earned him games of 243-180, 204-234 and 249-211 en route to his second title. His win prevented Jason Belmonte of claiming his third PBA title in 2015.

Last month Blanchard earned his first PBA title in a World Bowling Tour (WBT) event, defeating Sin Li jane of Malaysia in the final match. The PBA and WBT have an agreement in which PBA members earn PBA titles if they win a WBT event.

“The first win is always the best. I will remember it like it was yesterday for the rest of my life. It almost compares to my first National Championship at Wichita State in 2009,” Blanchard said.

The Wichita State alum led the 316 entrants in the first round of the Euro Challenge, averaging 251.00 for his six game qualifying total. After multiple elimination rounds and a match play round where Blanchard earned 150 bonus pins, he found himself in the 3-person stepladder final.

Blanchard's 248 game would be enough to take the title.

2015 has proved to be an exciting year in Blanchard’s life already. Blanchard and wife Aimee welcomed a new member to their family; Madalyn Marie was born on January 16th. Traveling, competing and now winning have a little bit of a different meaning to it, according to Blanchard.

“It feels completely different traveling and competing as a dad. Before my kids, I would have such highs and lows in the game. Now that my kids are in my life, it makes bowling easier knowing I am a winner to them no matter how I do,” Blanchard said. “I would like to thank all of the people back in Wichita who made me who I am today. From the coaches to the faculty, everyone helped shape me to become a better business man, bowling and most importantly a better person.”

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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.