Wichita State bowler is Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow
November 24, 2010
Brent Bowers of Mulvane, Kan., is the recipient of the 2011 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award. The award is presented annually by the United States Bowling Congress to a male high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling.
A junior business major at Wichita State University, Bowers said it is an award he always dreamed of winning.
"The last time a native Kansan won the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow award was 1995," Bowers said. "The local news article that was written about the award winner was taped to my bedroom wall from the age of 7 until the day we moved out of that house when I was 17. It was my brother's dream before it was mine, and from my family's perspective, it is the greatest achievement there is for a young bowler."
In addition to having won national titles with the Shockers in 2008 and 2010, Bowers is a two-time member of Junior Team USA (2008, 2009). At the 2009 USBC Youth Open, he won the team title and took second in doubles.
Bowers is a USBC Bronze coach and has served as an associate coach at Wichita State since 2008. He has voluntarily coached youth bowlers in Wichita-area centers since 2005 and is an active member of the Great Plains USBC Board of Directors.
Heather D'Errico, the 2010 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award winner, said in her recommendation letter that it is important to have people such as Bowers active in the bowling community and to have them represent the younger generation of bowlers.
"Brent is willing to do anything to help others and improve the bowling community," D'Errico said. "The way Brent carries himself in the bowling community, with such integrity and respect for everyone around him, is admirable."
Bowling has long been a family sport for Bowers, who likes to say he literally grew up in a bowling center.
"I believe I started bowling regularly when I was about 2 years old," Bowers said. "My mom bowled league with me in her belly for as long as the doctor would allow it. My brother bowled all the time, my mom was the youth director and my dad was the local bowling association secretary."
His older brother, Brian, was a big reason he started bowling. Bowers was "bowling" every day at age 9 but really didn't understand what he was doing until he met his coach.
"I had no idea what the difference was between 'bowling' and 'practicing', and then I met Mark Lewis," Bowers said. "From that point on, Coach L took me under his wing and guided my talent in the right direction."
The Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award is named for the former Young American Bowling Alliance executive director who spent much of his adult life helping young people through his association with junior bowling.
For being selected as the award winner, Bowers will receive a $6,000 scholarship that will be presented at the annual USBC Convention scheduled for June 29-July 1 at the Gaylord Texan hotel in Grapevine, Texas.
Chuck Hall Star Of Tomorrow Award winners
Year, winner, hometown
1980 Chris Whitty, Simonton, Texas
1981 Drew Barthle, Tampa, Fla.
1982 Ricky Corona, Oakland, Calif.
1983 Dan Nadeau, Las Vegas
1984 Robert Beck, Houston
1985 Justin Hromek, Andover, Kan.
1986 Pat Healey, Wichita, Kan.
1987 Mark Fisser, Buena Park, Calif.
1988 Bradley Joinetz, San Antonio, Texas
1989 Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan.
1990 Jason McCarty, Fultondale, Ala.
1991 Chris Williams, Anchorage, Alaska
1992 Robert Smith, Moorpark, Calif.
1993 Vince Biondo, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
1994 Michael Mullin, New City, N.Y.
1995 John Miller, Wichita, Kan.
1996 David Eisenberg, Kendall Park, N.J.
1997 Todd Filter, Cedarburg, Wis.
1998 James (Eddie) Kirtley, Bowling Green, Ky.
1999 Andrew Cain, Glendale, Ariz.
2000 Scott Norton, Cypress, Calif.
2001 Sean Rash, Anchorage, Alaska
2002 Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas
2003 Marc D'Errico, Rochester, N.Y.,
2004 Patrick Haggerty, Weimar, Calif.
2005 Brandon Temple, Tempe, Ariz.,
2006 Eric Helmrich, Saint Leonard, Md.
2007 Jonathan Buckert, Rochester, N.Y.,
2008 Kyle Kahlden, Houston
2009 Chris Bardol, Brockport, N.Y.
2010 Andrew Koff, Miami, Fla.
2011 Brent Bowers, Mulvane, Kan.
A junior business major at Wichita State University, Bowers said it is an award he always dreamed of winning.
"The last time a native Kansan won the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow award was 1995," Bowers said. "The local news article that was written about the award winner was taped to my bedroom wall from the age of 7 until the day we moved out of that house when I was 17. It was my brother's dream before it was mine, and from my family's perspective, it is the greatest achievement there is for a young bowler."In addition to having won national titles with the Shockers in 2008 and 2010, Bowers is a two-time member of Junior Team USA (2008, 2009). At the 2009 USBC Youth Open, he won the team title and took second in doubles.
Bowers is a USBC Bronze coach and has served as an associate coach at Wichita State since 2008. He has voluntarily coached youth bowlers in Wichita-area centers since 2005 and is an active member of the Great Plains USBC Board of Directors.
Heather D'Errico, the 2010 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award winner, said in her recommendation letter that it is important to have people such as Bowers active in the bowling community and to have them represent the younger generation of bowlers.
"Brent is willing to do anything to help others and improve the bowling community," D'Errico said. "The way Brent carries himself in the bowling community, with such integrity and respect for everyone around him, is admirable."
Bowling has long been a family sport for Bowers, who likes to say he literally grew up in a bowling center.
"I believe I started bowling regularly when I was about 2 years old," Bowers said. "My mom bowled league with me in her belly for as long as the doctor would allow it. My brother bowled all the time, my mom was the youth director and my dad was the local bowling association secretary."
His older brother, Brian, was a big reason he started bowling. Bowers was "bowling" every day at age 9 but really didn't understand what he was doing until he met his coach.
"I had no idea what the difference was between 'bowling' and 'practicing', and then I met Mark Lewis," Bowers said. "From that point on, Coach L took me under his wing and guided my talent in the right direction."
The Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award is named for the former Young American Bowling Alliance executive director who spent much of his adult life helping young people through his association with junior bowling.
For being selected as the award winner, Bowers will receive a $6,000 scholarship that will be presented at the annual USBC Convention scheduled for June 29-July 1 at the Gaylord Texan hotel in Grapevine, Texas.
Chuck Hall Star Of Tomorrow Award winners
Year, winner, hometown
1980 Chris Whitty, Simonton, Texas
1981 Drew Barthle, Tampa, Fla.
1982 Ricky Corona, Oakland, Calif.
1983 Dan Nadeau, Las Vegas
1984 Robert Beck, Houston
1985 Justin Hromek, Andover, Kan.
1986 Pat Healey, Wichita, Kan.
1987 Mark Fisser, Buena Park, Calif.
1988 Bradley Joinetz, San Antonio, Texas
1989 Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan.
1990 Jason McCarty, Fultondale, Ala.
1991 Chris Williams, Anchorage, Alaska
1992 Robert Smith, Moorpark, Calif.
1993 Vince Biondo, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
1994 Michael Mullin, New City, N.Y.
1995 John Miller, Wichita, Kan.
1996 David Eisenberg, Kendall Park, N.J.
1997 Todd Filter, Cedarburg, Wis.
1998 James (Eddie) Kirtley, Bowling Green, Ky.
1999 Andrew Cain, Glendale, Ariz.
2000 Scott Norton, Cypress, Calif.
2001 Sean Rash, Anchorage, Alaska
2002 Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas
2003 Marc D'Errico, Rochester, N.Y.,
2004 Patrick Haggerty, Weimar, Calif.
2005 Brandon Temple, Tempe, Ariz.,
2006 Eric Helmrich, Saint Leonard, Md.
2007 Jonathan Buckert, Rochester, N.Y.,
2008 Kyle Kahlden, Houston
2009 Chris Bardol, Brockport, N.Y.
2010 Andrew Koff, Miami, Fla.
2011 Brent Bowers, Mulvane, Kan.