Oregon State University’s collegiate-level bowling team is looking to strike up new bowlers at both the competitive and casual level.
The team will be holding tryouts on Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Memorial Union.
According to a flier on the team’s Facebook page, check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. and there will be four games in the morning and four in the afternoon as well as “mystery sport patterns.” The flier also said there will be no admittance charge and lunch will be provided.
Started in Sept. 2024, OSU’s Bowling Team is one of only two collegiate programs in the Pacific Northwest recognized by the United States Bowling Congress. The other being the University of Washington’s team.
Although the team is new, they have managed to recruit Chris Burnett, one of the top 100 coaches in the nation and a well-known figure in the youth bowling scene as well as a sponsorship from Brunswick Bowling.
According to team club president Jacob Berger—a senior studying math and computer science—the team is open to both competitive and casual bowlers and they are looking to grow.
“We’re a non-cut program, so if you have prior bowling experience, you’re welcome to join us and practice with the team,” a Frequently Asked Questions forum on the team’s website stated. “We do, however, select who will travel and compete in tournaments. Currently, we have Varsity and Junior Varsity teams, and one of our biggest goals for the 2025-2026 season is to grow our Women’s Team, which we’re excited about.”
Berger said there are around 20-30 members that currently show up to team practices, about 10 of which go to the tournaments.
Since Bowling isn’t an NCAA-recognized sport for men, the team doesn’t offer scholarships and receives “minimal funding” from OSU. The FAQ said the team relies on “the generosity of donors, grants for clubs, and fundraising efforts” to support them.
Members also have an annual due that can range up to $100. The member due covers such things as team practices and other operational costs. The FAQ said the team is currently looking into ways to reduce travel expenses for tournaments.
According to Berger, the team’s next big tournament will be at Fresno State on Nov. 8 and 9.
