|
 Dec.
1, 2010—Schalmont High School senior Liz Kuhlkin is one step
closer to becoming a professional bowler now that she’s signed a
National Letter of Intent to attend the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln beginning in the fall of 2011 on an athletic
scholarship.
|
Liz Kuhlkin’s Bowling
Stats: |
| Highest
average in the nation for youth females over the last
two years |
| Holds
the Section II record for a six-game series with 1,474
pins |
| Holds
the NYS record for a three-game series with 835 pins |
| Bowled
a perfect 300 during try-outs held earlier this year and
again later that week |
| School
team has been undefeated over the past two years |
“I always had Nebraska in the back of my head, but I never
thought I would go there because it’s so far away,” Liz said. “I
was scared because I’ve never been on a plane before, but I
realized it was time to grow up.”
Facing her fears, Liz hopped aboard a plane bound for Nebraska
in October to visit the campus with her father and close friend,
Becka—a Lansingburgh student who was the only other bowler
worldwide, besides Liz, to be recruited by the Division I school
this year. They plan to room together as freshmen.
“It’s like taking a little piece of home and bringing it with
me,” Liz said.
During their trip, Liz was impressed by the on-campus bowling
lanes and “training table”—a student-athlete only dining
facility. She also enjoyed meeting and eating dinner with the
women’s bowling team, cheering on the Huskers football team and
learning about the academic programming.
“I would like to go professional as a bowler, but it’s extremely
tough,” said Liz, who also has aspirations to become a
journalist. “There’s not much of a woman’s bowling tour out
there, and the women have to be good enough to compete with
boys.”
Kelley Kulick, who Liz calls her “idol,” became the first woman
to win a regular Professional Bowlers Association tour title
when she won the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas
in January. Kulick is currently on tour.
A few other women on tour are Nebraska alumni, which was
influential in Liz’s decision to attend the school, which is
ranked number one nationally for collegiate bowling.
“It’s pretty cool to know they [University of Nebraska] have
developed women who are on tour,” Liz said. “This is a really
big opportunity for me and it’s my best chance to become a
professional bowler.”
Her parents are excited and supportive of her decision. After
all they did introduce her to the sport—using bumpers—when
she was just six years old.
“My dad put a ball in my hand, and I just loved it,” she said.
Since
the team competes nationally, Liz expects to see her family in
attendance at tournaments held on the East coast.
Although bowling is a winter sport at Schalmont, the season is
much longer at the college-level—, spanning from September
through April. Athletes practice six days per week, three hours
per day.
“It’s definitely a lot of bowling,” said Liz. “My thumb is going
to have to get used to it!”
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