The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has elevated the sport of bowling to emerging sport status. The move by one of the nation’s governing bodies for collegiate athletics puts bowling on the path to becoming a championship sport for dozens of additional colleges and universities across the country.

“This is a fantastic development for bowling student athletes,” United States Bowling Congress Collegiate Manager Gary Brown said. “We have crossed a key threshold on the path to bowling becoming an NAIA championship sport.”

Bowling reached emerging sport status when 25 or more NAIA member institutions declared to participate for the 2010-2011 academic year. There are currently 27 NAIA schools with varsity men’s bowling teams, while 29 have varsity women’s teams. If 50 or more NAIA member institutions designate bowling as a varsity sport, then bowling will be eligible for championship sport status and an NAIA national championship.

“Collegiate bowling has grown in popularity and our members are excited about how this sport will add to the competitive sports experience offered to young men and women competing in the NAIA,” Lori Thomas, NAIA Vice President for Championships said. “I would like to thank the United States Bowling Congress for their work to grow intercollegiate bowling. We look forward to a collaborative partnership.”

In the past season, USBC Collegiate has facilitated an overall growth of more than 16 percent in the number of institutions with bowling programs nationwide. In addition to NAIA, the sport of bowling is now recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The NAIA has 60,000 student-athletes participating at nearly 300 member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Divided into 25 conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions, the NAIA offers 23 championships in 13 sports.

All of the NAIA bowling programs are members of USBC Collegiate, including the reigning USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships women’s champions, Webber International, and runner-up McKendree.

Other women’s NAIA teams that advanced to the 2010 ITCs from the NAIA include Pikeville, Lindenwood, Robert Morris-Illinois and St. Ambrose. On the men’s side, McKendree, Robert Morris-Illinois, Lindenwood, Webber International and the runner-up for the national title, Calumet College of St. Joseph, are all NAIA teams.