Pictured Above Is: GCU Coach Ben Canfield.
GCU Ready To Impress The Collegiate Bowling World, When Its Season Begins On November 12th.
The Phoenix School Makes History Again, As Women's Bowling Will Make Its Debut in 2016 -17.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Phoenix - - - When the intercollegiate club bowling program for Grand Canyon University kicks off later this fall. The private Christian college in north Phoenix, will once again make history in only its fourth season of competition.
Last year, the men's program under first year coach Ben Canfield. Made history as the men's bowling team got its first ever invitation to post season play at the ITC Sectionals in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year, the school will again make history, by rolling out its first ever women's bowling team.
"I am excited about our women's team," said Ben, now in his second year as coach. "I believe we have a legitimate chance to make a splash in the college bowling world this year.
"My women's roster is composed mostly of local bowlers, or bowlers who were part of the team in the past, along with a couple of recruits," he added. "I think that Emily Orneales will have a great collegiate career. She is already one of the best female bowlers in the state of Arizona."
Others who made the GCU women's team this year are: Brooke Kilgore, Candace Gardner, Coreen Lieber, Deborah Papin, and Jazmyn Eubanks. Bowlers returning to the program are: Allyssa Caron and Jennifer Pheigaru.
The men's team will be bowling a full ten tournament regular season, and the women's team is bowling five tournaments on its schedule during the 2016-17 campaign. The reason the women's bowling program only has five tournaments on its schedule this year, is because women's bowling is not as big on the west coast as it is on the east coast. Coach Canfield, though, is hoping to expand the women's schedule in the future.
The tournaments that GCU will be entered in this year are as follows: West Coast Collegiate Team Championships, Nov 12th-13th; Montclair Open, Nov 19th-20th; Las Vegas Invitational, December 19th-20th; Collegiate Shoot-Out, December 21st-22nd; Devils Duel, January 14th; Antelope Shoot-Out, January 15th; Rebel Classic, January 27-29th; and the Hoosier Classic, February 27th-29th.
"My goal for both teams is to make it to the Club Nationals. I believe our men's team has a legitimate shot to bring home the program's first tournament victory," the coach said, on his goals for the upcoming season. "We have had about eight practices so far. Both teams look solid. There is a lot of talent, and individuals that work hard on our rosters. I will utilize the junior talent in Arizona to continue to expand our flourishing team."
On the men's side, he is hoping that: Aaron Willis, Cameron Smith, Joshua Mabry, Kyle Reed, Matthew Green, Michael Heath, Ronald Delatorre, Zachary Rupp. And returning bowlers: Alex Washburn, Kyle Simi, and Nick Ochse. Will in fact, rise to the occasion and bring home the schools first tournament title.
"Accomplishing our goals will be done by working hard at practices and learning at tournaments," stresses the coach, on his goals. "The first few events, will give me a good idea of what improvements need to be made individually, and as a team. Fans should expect to see a exciting bunch of bowlers, who are passionate about the sport. Success will come if they continue to work as hard as they already are."
Ben, is a young, very young collegiate coach. He only graduated from ASU himself in 2015, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Due to the closeness in age of his bowlers, he feels he can relate to what they are going through with their own collegiate experiences.
"My first year at GCU was successful and fulfilling. The season went well, and we made the post season for the first time in the program's history. And, I will look to build on that this year," he said, of his rookie season as coach. "I learned that being a coach is more than just telling people where to go and what to do. Coaching is best done by making relationships with your players and maximizing what they do best."
But, there is also something he hopes his bowlers will learn from their college experiences as well.
"The most rewarding thing is seeing my bowlers build relationships with one another, while having a blast on and off the lanes," he said, of his kids. "I'm very close in age to most of my bowlers. It's great not only being a coach, but a friend. We can talk about life together from a similar paradigm. I will continue to connect with my bowlers, and figure out how to best maximize their abilities."
Ben, has found success on the lanes, too. He is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), and competes on the western regional tour when his schedule permits. His best finish on the tour last year, came when he placed second with Russ Oviatt, in a PBA Member/Non-Member doubles event at the South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas. He did his collegiate bowling at Arizona State.
"My personal bowling has been up and down over the past year. I understand that there is a learning curve to bowling at the professional level, and I am excited for the challenge ahead," he said, of his own bowling experiences. "I have had a blast traveling with Jakob Butturff, and my coach Jordan Nassberg (he is also under a ball contract with 900 Global). If I had to change one thing, it would be the amount of time that I practice. I did not estimate how busy my schedule would be, and will definitely be implementing more time on the lanes for my personal practices."
He feels he couldn't be as successful on the lanes as he is, without the support he gets from his kids.
"My bowlers at GCU fully support my bowling. They always keep tabs on how I'm doing, and ask me about my tournaments," he said, of his support group. "They want me to be successful in the same way that I wish for their success in all of their bowling endeavors."
GCU was founded in 1949, by the Southern Baptist Church. It was first known as Grand Canyon College, and its first campus was located in an abandoned Army building in Prescott in 1951. The college has since relocated to Phoenix. The main campus is located at 3300 West Camelback Road in Phoenix.
Bowling became a club sport at GCU in 2013. Its men's and women's sports programs compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). It has its own six lane bowling center called the Thunderground, where the men's and women's bowling team does its practicing.
Originally from San Diego, California, Ben is a 2011 graduate of Horizon Christian Academy. During his junior and senior years at ASU, he carried a 206-207 average respectively. His best collegiate event came in 2015, when he finished second in the Sin City Open.
Arizona State Bowling News - October 18, 2016