IBMA to honor Gordon Vadakin with Alberta E. Crowe Meritorious Service Award
04/21/15
A man who has achieved success both on and off the lanes but who perhaps is best recognized as one of bowling's top coaches, is the recipient of this year's International Bowling Media Association Alberta E. Crowe Meritorious Service Award.
Gordon Vadakin (pictured), who has made his mark in bowling as an athlete, instructor, coach, and even an entertainer of sorts, is being honored for his outstanding long-term accomplishments in and for the sport of bowling.
As head coach of the Wichita State University Shockers Bowling Program since 1977, Vadakin has garnered 18 national team championships (7 women, 11 men) and helped train such stellar performers as Chris Barnes and Sean Rash, three-time Collegiate Bowler of the Year Jazreel Tan of Singapore, and Colombia national champion Rocio Restrepo.
Vadakin's record of collegiate accomplishments includes directing the Shocker men to two national championship "three-peats" in 1993-94-95 and 2008-09-10.
On April 18, at the men's finals of the 2015 XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships in Wichita, Kan., Vadakin's crew (right) again emerged victorious, sweeping Midland in the best-of-five title match.
He also coached or taught bowling in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the Philippines, and was the first college coach to earn USBC Gold-level certification. Under his direction, Team USA captured four gold medals in the 1988 and 1990 FIQ World Youth Championships.
Vadakin himself was a Team USA member (1983, 1989), during which time he won medals in the American Zone and World Tenpin Bowling Championships. Closer to home, Vadakin finished third in All-Events at the 1983 and 1989 ABC Championships; he and his famed Chilton Vending Team won eagles for Team All-Events in 1988 and Regular Team the following year.
Vadakin dabbled in the performing arts on behalf of bowling when he anchored ESPN's 1988 "Learn to Bowl" instructional bowling videotape for youngsters.
The "1989 Bowlers Journal Amateur of the Year" is a member of the Wichita bowling and sports Halls of Fame, the USBC Hall of Fame, and the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame.
The award will be presented during International Bowl Expo at the Industry Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 24 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
IBMA Awards
A man who has achieved success both on and off the lanes but who perhaps is best recognized as one of bowling's top coaches, is the recipient of this year's International Bowling Media Association Alberta E. Crowe Meritorious Service Award.Gordon Vadakin (pictured), who has made his mark in bowling as an athlete, instructor, coach, and even an entertainer of sorts, is being honored for his outstanding long-term accomplishments in and for the sport of bowling.
As head coach of the Wichita State University Shockers Bowling Program since 1977, Vadakin has garnered 18 national team championships (7 women, 11 men) and helped train such stellar performers as Chris Barnes and Sean Rash, three-time Collegiate Bowler of the Year Jazreel Tan of Singapore, and Colombia national champion Rocio Restrepo.
Vadakin's record of collegiate accomplishments includes directing the Shocker men to two national championship "three-peats" in 1993-94-95 and 2008-09-10.
On April 18, at the men's finals of the 2015 XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships in Wichita, Kan., Vadakin's crew (right) again emerged victorious, sweeping Midland in the best-of-five title match.He also coached or taught bowling in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the Philippines, and was the first college coach to earn USBC Gold-level certification. Under his direction, Team USA captured four gold medals in the 1988 and 1990 FIQ World Youth Championships.
Vadakin himself was a Team USA member (1983, 1989), during which time he won medals in the American Zone and World Tenpin Bowling Championships. Closer to home, Vadakin finished third in All-Events at the 1983 and 1989 ABC Championships; he and his famed Chilton Vending Team won eagles for Team All-Events in 1988 and Regular Team the following year.
Vadakin dabbled in the performing arts on behalf of bowling when he anchored ESPN's 1988 "Learn to Bowl" instructional bowling videotape for youngsters.
The "1989 Bowlers Journal Amateur of the Year" is a member of the Wichita bowling and sports Halls of Fame, the USBC Hall of Fame, and the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame.
The award will be presented during International Bowl Expo at the Industry Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 24 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
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