Congratulating the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 455, congratulating the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship.

Wichita State University began as Fairmount College, a private congressional school, in 1895. Wichita State University changed its name and officially entered the State system of higher education on July 1, 1964. And today WSU offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges.

The university is an NCAA Division I institution, and fields teams in tennis, cross-country, basketball, track, golf, crew, bowling, men's baseball, and women's volleyball and softball. The name for WSU's athletic teams is the Shockers. The name reflects the University's heritage. Early students earned money by shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. The WSU Shockers have excelled at many sports over the years, but bowling has recently become one of WSU's most successful athletic teams.

The sport of bowling originated in ancient Egypt. Bowling balls and pins were found in the tomb of an Egyptian king who died in 5200 B.C. The ancient Polynesians bowled on lanes that were 60 feet long, the same as today, and bowling was part of a religious ceremony in fourth- century Germany. British kings Edward II and Richard II banned bowling because they said people were wasting too much time playing the sport.

Bowling has been popular in America since Colonial days. The German settlers introduced ninepins, the game that evolved into today's modern tenpin sport. Today bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than 90 countries worldwide.

As the most accomplished collegiate bowling program in the Nation, the Wichita State Shocker bowling teams have 18 national championship victories to their name. In the 2009 men's national championship, the Shockers and the Saginaw Valley State University squared off in a showdown between the two most successful programs in the history of collegiate bowling for the title. The Lady Shockers came through and won their second national championship in three seasons after a 2-0 sweep of Lindenwood in the championship match.

I'm honored to stand before the House today to congratulate and recognize the significant achievements of the players and the coaches whose hard work has led to the success of the Wichita State University Shockers men's and women's bowling teams as USBC Intercollegiate National Champions.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend who's the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 455) congratulating the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 455 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today to congratulate the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for each of their victories in the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship.

April 15-18, 2009, college bowling fans were treated to a number of great bowling matches between the most skilled bowlers in the country. The Wichita State University men's bowling team entered the national tournament for the 24th consecutive year and ranked as the number one team in the Nation. They garnered their ninth national championship, defeating Saginaw Valley State University in the final match. The women's team also

collected its ninth national championship, beating Lindenwood University in their finals.

Sandra Gongora from the Shockers was named the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Female Collegiate Bowler of the Year. John Szezerbinski and Josh Blanchard of the men's team were BWAA Male Collegiate Bowler of the Year runners-up.

As the most accomplished collegiate bowling program in the Nation, the Wichita State Shockers bowling teams have 18 national championship victories. No other team in the Nation has achieved this magnitude of success. The program has produced 169 All-Americans and seven National Bowlers of the Year. Better yet, 32 former and current Shockers bowlers represented our country on Team USA.

I want to extend my congratulations to Gordon Vadakin, the head coach of both the women's and men's team. Through his leadership, Coach Vadakin led Wichita State University to 32 intercollegiate bowling national championship tournaments since he began coaching in 1976.

Mark Lewis, Brian Adelgren, and Nathan Bohr also helped these teams reach elite status with their roles as assistant coaches.

Bowling, by far, is the school's most preeminent athletic program. Winning the national championship and collecting its 18th national title has brought national acclaim to Wichita State University. I know the fans of the university will revel in this accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the Wichita State University Shockers for their success and thank Representative Tiahrt for bringing this resolution forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to first thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii for her help in this legislation and for the kind words to Wichita State and also to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, who also gave us a wonderful history about this sport and also Wichita State University and his kind words.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer House Resolution 455 honoring the 2009 National Champion Wichita State University Shocker men's and women's bowling teams. By its very nature, a national championship is special, but to have both men's and women's teams from the same school earn the same title in the same year is truly remarkable.

The Wichita State University men's team entered the elimination portion of the tournament seeded first, a ranking which they held all the way through the finals where they claimed the national championship. The Lady Shockers were ranked second entering the elimination tournament and overcame a difficult schedule on their way to becoming national champions. These championship teams carry on a winning tradition at Wichita State University. This is the ninth national title for each of them, the second consecutive national title for the men, and the third women's national title in 5 years.

Wichita State University has been blessed with an incredible coaching staff. Head coach Gordon Vadakin and assistant coach Mark Lewis are both members of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame. Gordon Vadakin has been coaching at Wichita State University since 1976, leading the men's and women's teams to a combined 32 USBC Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship tournaments and winning a record 16 of them. The Wichita State University team has two additional outstanding assistant coaches in Brian Adelgren and Nathan Bohr.

I want to congratulate the men's team of Jake Peters, Nick Pahr, Brandon Hall, Josh McBride, Stephen Cowland, Adam Ferri, Kyle Bischoff, Will Barnes, Geoffrey Young, Kevin Tatrow; and Male Collegiate Bowler of the Year runners-up John Szczerbinski and Josh Blanchard; and to the women's team of Melissa Hurst, Maggie Zakrzewski, Suzana Signaigo, Jessica Baker, Samantha Hesley, Mariana Ayala, Daniela Alvarado, Rocio Restrepo, Samantha Linder, and Female Collegiate Bowler of the Year Sandra Gongora.

Once again, I am pleased today that the United States House of Representatives will congratulate and commend the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship Tournament. Go Shox.