Being the “best blue collar team in the country” is a point of pride for the Wright State Raiders.
The Wright State women’s team is currently the top-ranked club bowling team in the country while the men are No. 3. Club bowling teams are programs that are not affiliated the NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA and don’t offer athletic scholarships. But, unlike, many other collegiate sports, club bowling teams compete regularly against NCAA teams and other scholarship programs.
“Our kids pay dues, they have skin in the game, this is their program,” Raiders coach Jeff Fleck said. “We absolutely have to fight harder, we’re that blue collar team.
“And when a club team makes nationals, it’s a big deal.”
The Raiders know first hand what it takes to qualify to nationals as the women have competed at the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships seven times since 2009 and the men twice since 2011.