Nebraska Bowling Strikes Again

The N Club hosted its fall social on Thursday, Sept. 14th with a special visit to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus, home to Nebraska’s 10-time national championship women’s bowling program.

Kicking off the event, guests learned about Nebraska’s illustrious and historic bowling program from two-time national champion bowling alumna Karla (Engh) Bandemer (2001 – 2006) and Nebraska’s Head Bowling Coach Bill Straub, reigning National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Coach of the Year.

Instead of focusing on the program’s unprecedented success, including 10 national championships, 65 All-American awards, and never being ranked lower than 7th in top 25 team rankings the past 20 years, Bandemer and Straub talked about their Nebraska experience and what made and still makes the program special to them.   

“While it is awesome to say [my teammates and I] were part of the first NCAA bowling championship, looking back on my experience, I appreciate that our team never thought or felt like we were less of a team because we were one of the smaller sports at Nebraska,” said Bandemer. “We were just as loved, embraced, and valued by Nebraska Athletics as any other team, which isn’t necessarily the case for other bowling programs throughout the nation.”

Straub provided a general overview of the program, touching on recruiting, tournaments, national championship competitions, facilities, and equipment, and provided the secret to his success.

“As a self-taught bowler, I studied the best coaches, including UCLA’s John Wooden,” said Straub. “Wooden took the most talented players in the nation and before teaching them anything else, he taught them how to properly put on their socks. For us, just like Wooden, our success is found in paying attention to the smallest details.”

The smallest details were apparent as guests were impressed with the event, facility tour, amenities provided to the student-athletes, and tips and attention received in learning how to bowl from the 2017-2018 Nebraska bowling team.

“You could tell how proud the coaches and student-athletes were of their sport and first-class facilities,” said Tonia (Tauke) Albers, Nebraska volleyball letterwinner (1996-1999). “Any time my kids can experience people who have made it to the top of their field, it teaches them and shows them anything they choose to do, they can be great, too.”


Above Kim Straub, four-time All-American, 1992 National Collegiate Bowler of the Year, and current Bowling Office Manager, provides advice to Tonia (Tauke) Alber's youngest daughter. 

The N Club will celebrate the 1997 National Championship Bowling Team along with four other nationally prominent Husker teams during the Weekend of Champions reunions this fall. Other teams celebrated will include the 1987 College World Series Softball Team, the 1997 and 2007 Super Six Finals Gymnastics Teams, and the 1997 National Championship Football Team.