The UW-Whitewater women’s bowling team is gearing up for the 2025-26 season. With months of offseason training and the preseason beginning, the team is ready for a fresh start and a fresh set of opportunities. Led by head coach Becca Hagerman, the team is ready to have a strong season.
“We lost a lot of veteran players so I feel like this season we’re really trying to build,” Hagerman said. “But I still believe we have the potential to stay within the top 15 in the NCAA.”
The team is preparing in a lot of different ways and currently are in the evaluation stage of their tryout process. With five freshmen entering the program, they are getting their footing as a team again and seeing where everyone stands.
“I do think we have quite a few incoming girls who will play a big part on the team,” Hagerman said.
While the Warhawks are going through evaluations and getting their physical game on, they are also making sure to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing. With a demanding and long season ahead, the team wants to be physically and mentally prepared.
“Bowling is a 90 percent mental sport, so if your head isn’t it then you’re not going to be able to throw a good shot. It’s one shot at a time,” junior bowler Ashley Bowe said.
The Warhawks are also emphasizing team communication and team bonding. While bowling may seem like a mostly independent sport, overall success heavily relies on team chemistry.
“I would say the chemistry within the team is definitely getting better,” senior bowler Zoey Darwin said. “My main goal for the team is to just get us together more so we can connect on a different level, and hopefully it’ll show on the lanes as a result.”
With preseason rolling in for the bowlers, they have also made it a priority to get together. The upperclassmen are taking it upon themselves to welcome in the newer girls so the team can bond.
“The freshmen are coming in fresh, so I’m making it my priority to reach out to them and be a guide for them,” Bowe said.
Overall, the team is excited and ready for the season. The girls want people to understand how much work and dedication goes into this sport and how they are ready for the new season. Hagerman encourages everyone to come out and experience this season’s excitement firsthand.
“I’d encourage everyone to go out to an NCAA bowling event and feel the atmosphere,” Hagerman said. “Watch how the girls interact and see how intense bowling really can be.”
The Warhawks start their season in early October and look to make this a year to remember.
As Darwin put it: “Don’t overlook us.”
