Bowling isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when students think of sports they can get involved in. At Weber State, anyone can get involved in bowling, no matter the experience level.

By enrolling in classes or joining the bowling club, students can learn the basic rules and regulations of bowling. It is also an opportunity for more advanced bowlers to fine-tune their skills. The club is open to all students but there are club fees: $100 a semester for students and $115 for non-students.

Bowling, unlike basketball or football, is not affiliated with the NCAA at Weber State. This makes it hard for the school to provide scholarships to students on the bowling team. However, there are small scholarships available. Through private donations and scholarship foundations, students in the bowling club can gain some money to help with the cost of schooling.

One scholarship in particular, the Darin Lee Youngman Memorial Scholarship, is something the bowling team is proud to be a part of. In order to receive this scholarship students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Darin Lee Youngman was a bowler at Weber State University. His goal of becoming a professional bowler was crushed when he died in an automobile accident in 1991, according to a plaque just outside Wildcat Lanes in the Shepherd Union.

“Darin was a naturally gifted bowler,” WSU bowling coach Fred Meaders said. “And with his maturity and experience, I fully expected him to win a national title on the PBA Tour someday.”

Meaders has been the bowling coach at Weber State University for 27 years. The program has a lot of experience behind it, and it shows great potential for the future.

Meaders said that anyone who has enough desire or hard work ethic can take what they learn at Weber State to the next level of bowling.

Only a handful of past Wildcat bowlers have gone on to leave a mark in the world of bowling. Becky Johns, Davie Mae Lindquist, Chuckie Groat, Mike Sagers and Vance Akiyama are among the best that have gone through Wildcat Lanes.

Try-outs are required to make the team, which travels to play in tournaments. Currently the team has eight members.

“We are hoping to get more students to come join,” Kyle Richetti said. “If we have two more girls, we could make a whole women’s team or two separate teams.”

Richetti is a second-year team member. He came to Weber to study computer science.

“The bowling was just icing on the cake for me,”Richetti said.

Similar to other members of the team, Richetti has been bowling since he was 9 years old.

If students want to get involved or are seeking a new hobby, the club meets on Monday through Thursday from 2-4 p.m. at Wildcat Lanes on the main floor of the Shepherd Union.

“We are always looking for new members,” WSU bowler Austin Schleidt said. “The more the merrier.”