Bowling team rolls short at CIAA Championship

The Winston-Salem State bowling team ended the season with a 4-2 loss to Virginia State at the CIAA Bowling Championships in Durham March 23-25.
The Lady Rams secured their spot in the CIAA Championship Tournament finishing third at the CIAA Southern Division Meet on March 17.
Head Coach Jason Mai said that the conference tournament is the most competitive part of their season
Mai has coached the team since the summer 2011, and has done a good job of keeping the program competitive.
Mai is also the director of football operations and tight end coach for the Rams football team.
In Mai's second season at the helm, the team finished with an overall record of 49-26.
"In bowling, every tournament that you go to, you're going to bowl 15 matches and each one of those counts toward your overall record," Mai said.
"For us, the concept is to compete to win the CIAA. To compete in the CIAA, you have to be able to win in your division first, which means we have to be able to beat Fayetteville State, St. Augustine's and schools like that. If we finish top two or top three in our division, we'll go to the conference championship."
Although they are not as celebrated as the football or basketball teams, the bowling team is a full-fledged, school-sponsored sport.
WSSU offers scholarships and recruits players in bowling just like it does in football, basketball and other sports Also similar to other sports, tryouts are held and walk-ons are allowed.
The team consists of players that have bowled in leagues most of their lives as well as players with no prior bowling experience.
Despite the team's success, there has not been much recognition for the Lady Rams. This often frustrates senior captain Raven Forest.
"I hate it to be honest," Forest said.
"I can't stand it, but I just don't think people like bowling. Many people question why it's a sport."
Forest said that the team is open to using competition to spread the word.
"It's more word of mouth," she said.
"People find out we have a bowling team and they challenge us. We'll go out to the student bowling nights and bowl against them. That's pretty much how we get our name out there."
The Lady Rams practiced and bowled their matches at Northside Lanes on Akron Drive in Winston-Salem.