NAIA ELEVATES COLLEGIATE BOWLING
TO EMERGING SPORT STATUS

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has elevated the sport of bowling to emerging sport status. The move by one of the nation's governing bodies for collegiate athletics puts bowling on the path to becoming a championship sport for dozens of additional colleges and universities across the country.

"This is a fantastic development for bowling student athletes," United States Bowling Congress Collegiate Manager Gary Brown said. "We have crossed a key threshold on the path to bowling becoming an NAIA championship sport."

Bowling reached emerging sport status when 25 or more NAIA member institutions declared to participate for the 2010-2011 academic year. There are currently 27 NAIA schools with varsity men' bowling teams, while 29 have varsity women's teams. If 50 or more NAIA member institutions designate bowling as a varsity sport, then bowling will be eligible for championship sport status and an NAIA national championship.