WSU bowling camps have international reputation

Typical athletic camps are mainly citywide and rarely encompass the state. But 成人头条鈥檚 Brunswick Bowling camps are not typical sports camps.

Adults and children ages 10-25 travel from across Kansas, out of state and even from overseas to attend the Brunswick Bowling camps, including the Youth Weekend camps, the Lane Play camp, the Youth Day camp and the Nuts & Bolts camp.

According to Rogie Wiswell, marketing manager for the Rhatigan Student Center, 鈥淭he camps annually attract more than 250 campers from several foreign countries and around 35 states.鈥

The bowling camp program, produced by head coach Gordon Vadakin and assistant coach Mark Lewis, is the most successful in the nation, Wiswell said.

Gordon Vadakin

Gordon Vadakin

Vadakin has been the head coach of the Shocker Bowling team since 1977. He is a United States Bowling Congress Gold-Level certified coach and a member of TEAM USA鈥檚 coaching staff. Lewis has been the assistant coach since 1999. He is a USBC Silver-Level certified coach and competed in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Both are members of the USBC Hall of Fame.

Also instructing campers are USBC certified coaches Rick Steelsmith, Lonnie Waliczek and former Shocker bowlers.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also using some current players to oversee the campers in the dorm rooms and do some coaching,鈥 said Lewis.

According to Lewis, these camps give young bowlers the chance to improve their skills and become better players. Also, campers get to see what WSU has to offer and the benefits from the bowling facility.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a recruiting tool,鈥 said Lewis. 鈥淚t allows us to recruit students, but it allows students to recruit us.鈥

Three Youth Weekend camps were held in June and July. The camps offered training activities, video analysis tapes, digital bowler analysis, grip analysis T-shirts and a notebook filled with curriculum materials. 

Campers stayed in the Fairmount Towers, but hotel information was given to any parents wishing to accompany their son or daughter to the camp.

A Lane Play camp was held June 28-29, a Youth Day camp was held July 15 and a Nuts & Bolts camp will be held in early August. 

All camps are full. Assistant coach Mark Lewis recommends registering in early October to save a spot for one of the camps next year.