They’re one month in, and the UW-Whitewater’s men’s club bowling team has had a successful start to a much anticipated season. The close knit team is returning to Warhawk Alley’s lanes this week after participating in one of several tournaments kicking off the season.

The team travels frequently for tournaments that can take them all over Wisconsin, the midwest and even the country.

“We travel for tournaments as far as Wichita, Kansas, and as close as Milwaukee, or Rockford. The ITC championships are in Las Vegas this year if we are able to qualify,” said head coach Brandon Mooney.

Mooney has been an important part of the UW-W men’s club bowling team since he was recruited to play as a freshman in 2017. He bowled for the Warhawks until he graduated in 2021. He came back the next season to be one of the assistant coaches for the team. Mooney then took over as head coach starting with the 2022-23 season. Aside from his position as head coach, Mooney is a business owner and entrepreneur. He owns and operates pro shops that help drill bowling balls.

“My responsibilities as coach include organizing practices, deciding rosters for each event, coaching them during the event, and recruiting players to come and try out for the team,” Mooney said.

According to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) guidelines, there are up to 24 bowlers on the travel team. Typically the bowling season starts around the end of the summer, starting with tryouts to decide the 24 spots. Regular season tournaments start at the end of September and go through the end of February.

“We practice as a team three days a week and we bowl about 15 tournaments a year,” Mooney said.

This season practices run Tuesday through Thursday with the travel tournaments on the weekends. Already this season the team has traveled to Indianapolis as well as Wichita and Rockford.

“First few tournaments have been alright, though I didn’t bowl as much or as well as I wanted to but I’m always happy to see my teammates succeed and see them get their chance to shine,” junior bowler Tommy Corfield said. “Though I might not have bowled well. I like to think of it as doing my part to keep our energy high during our long tournaments while learning as well.”

For Corfield and all of the players, being on the team is about more than just their love of bowling.

“My favorite thing about the bowling team is the community and connections it has made because I’ve made a lot of friends that I consider my best friends and overall we are like family since we see each other daily and talk and hang all the time,” Corfield said.

All in all the UW-W men’s club bowling team has a lot of positive energy and memories.

“My favorite college memory is during my first year coaching we were in Nashville for sectionals,” Mooney said. “Getting to hang out all together as a team in Nashville. We ended up winning that sectional as well which was my first big win as a coach.”