OWENSBORO, Ky. — The Kentucky Wesleyan College Department of Athletics is launching a new era in Owensboro with the addition of a club men's and varsity women's bowling team with Scott Thompson chosen to lead the way. Kentucky Wesleyan will be the second school in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to sponsor bowling, with Ursuline College also having a women's team.
"We are thrilled to be bringing a bowling program to Owensboro," remarked President Bart Darrell. "It is a great opportunity to grow our College as a whole and provide expanded opportunities for scholar-athletes from a diverse sport. I have no doubt that Scott will hit the ground running with the Panthers."
With the addition of the bowling programs to the lineup, Kentucky Wesleyan now sponsors 18 varsity athletic teams. Intercollegiate competition for bowling is set to begin in the 2018-19 academic year with a competition season from October to March. The women's program will compete independently at the NCAA Division II level while the men will be the at the club level of the USBC.
"We have witnessed the growth of bowling in our region and at the national level. We are confident the program will have a positive impact on Kentucky Wesleyan College," noted Director of Athletic Rob Mallory. "We are fortunate to have Scott launch our two teams. His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to our new program."
Scott Thompson will be the first Head Coach of the bowling program after spending the past two years with the South Warren High School bowling teams, taking over after the previous coach resigned. When Thompson took over the program, the most wins the girls had in a single season was four. During his first year, the girls posted 15 wins and were a regional semifinalist. In his first year with the boys, Thompson coached the individual state champion while the team was the Region I champions and state semifinalist.
Thompson's success continued in the 2017 season with both teams reaching the regional tournament. The boys were both region and state runner ups, with an individual placing fifth in the state. The boys team competed at the US National High School Tournament in June with over 200 teams. Two individuals placed in the top 80 in the nation. On the girls side, an individual placed fifth in the region, missing states by five pins. Thompson produced the Fourth Region Athletic Directors Association Bowler of the Year for both the male and female award.
"One appealing aspect of this position was working with President Bart Darrell and Director of Athletics Rob Mallory. To have my hand and footprint in establishing this program is truly remarkable," said Thompson. "There are talented bowlers in Owensboro, Bowling Green, all over western Kentucky and the entire state. We want the best scholar-athletes to step foot on campus. We are breaking ground at Kentucky Wesleyan. This area is a hot bed for bowling right now and I'm honored to start it here in Owensboro."
The Bowling Green, Ky. native has a storied history in sports broadcasting and was named to the KABC Court of Honor for Lifetime Media Achievement in 2016. Thompson has spent the past 10 years doing play by play for the Western Kentucky University baseball team and was on air for the football program's first trip to a bowl game in 2012.
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