Most of this year’s Wichita State bowlers were just a thought in 1985, the last time the men’s team failed to make the Intercollegiate Team Championships. 

So for junior Devin Bidwell and sophomore Francois Lavoie, the idea that they are going to compete in the Intercollegiate Singles Championship without the rest of the team is taking some getting used to. 

“It’s been unusual for them. It’s been unusual for us coaches to not have both teams going on to a national tournament,” men’s bowling coach Gordon Vadakin said. “From the guys’ perspective, I think these two guys realize they are representing our men’s team, representing our school.”

The Intercollegiate Singles Championship, the most prestigious tournament WSU individuals bowl in each year, takes place on Tuesday in Lincoln, Neb. 

Last year, WSU’s Geoffrey Young took home the men’s individual title. Lavoie competed in last year’s tournament and made it to the quarterfinals. 

“I would like to win the whole thing, but if I do better than last year then I make the TV show, so I’d be pretty happy with that,” Lavoie said. “I’m probably going to use qualifying as more of an observing tool, trying to figure out what works, instead of trying to get the highest position.”

The tournament is a single elimination, match play tournament with 24 of the nation’s best bowlers. A qualifying round is held prior to the main tournament that determines the bowlers’ seeds. 

While Bidwell may be the veteran of the two bowlers representing WSU, he has no experience with this particular tournament. But he is no rookie when it comes to big stages, as he has competed in numerous international tournaments and feels prepared for the task at hand. 

“I don’t feel any added pressure,” Bidwell said. “If anything, all the other guys want us to win as much as we want to win. So it sort of feels like a team event. We aren’t going there bowling a singles event. We are going there to bowl like it’s a team event with just us two.”

While the tournament is in fact a singles event, both bowlers believe that having each other to lean on will help propel them forward, and each of them wants to represent the rest of the team to the best of their abilities. 

“We have a pretty strong belief in team play here with our players,” Vadakin said. “That creates a lot of friendship. These guys are good friends; they do like each other. They are there to help support each other to the best of their ability. It’s a singles tournament, but they aren’t very selfish about this. If one’s not in it, the other is going to be there to encourage the other to do as well as they can.”

There are also four WSU women competing at the individual championship this week. Allie Ijams, Dasha Kovalova, Tannya Roumimper and Jazreel Tan will represent the Shockers before the women’s team competes in the team championship on Thursday. 

For more on the Intercollegiate Singles Championships and for live scoring, go to www.bowl.com/isc/ and check back on Thursday for a preview of the women’s team in The S.