DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Kim Roe has been a staple of success for the Bethune-Cookman women's bowling team for the past two seasons. However, with her graduation from B-CU, she's ready to take her game and future prospects to the next level. Over this weekend, Roe will face off with some of the best talent in the nation at the 2010 USBC Queens tournament, making her first move into semi-professional bowling. At the same time, she is preparing for a trip in early May, to the NCAA Career in Sports Forum.
In her time with Bethune-Cookman bowling, Roe accumulated a 13,006 total pinfall over 67 games, resulting in a 194.1 pins per game average. As a Wildcat, she earned honors as a first-team All-MEAC bowler, on the MEAC All-Tournament team, and was named honorable mention All-America. Hailing from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Roe was one of B-CU's top all-time bowlers, and served well as a captain and leader.
"I think it's a great opportunity for Kim," said B-CU Head Bowling Coach Tony O'Neal. "I definitely believe she has the opportunity to bowl at the next level, and this will be a great tournament for her to show her talents against some of the best competition in the country."
With her academics at B-CU coming to an end, Roe is ready to take her game to the next level. She will be participating, April 23-28, in the 2010 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Queens Tournament. The tournament is held in El Paso, Texas, and corresponds with the USBC Women's Championships. The Queens tournament pits some of top national amateur and professional bowlers head-to-head for a share of prize funds.
"I really am excited for this chance," said Roe, "I just want to make our area and school proud; and to show that collegiate bowlers are not just limited to playing only for their time in school."
The bowlers will bowl ten qualifying games, before the field is cut by 25 percent and then five additional games are played. The top 63 bowlers and previous year's champion play in double-elimination match play, leading to 'stepladder' finals. In the finals, there will be four finalists from the winners bracket, and the contenders bracket. The tournament finals will be televised live, April 28, on ESPN2.
"Bowling is progression," noted Coach O'Neal. "Breaking into any field, especially at the professional level, it takes time. For Kim, it's the next logical step, though she will definitely have to pay her dues and go out and play on the national circuit. As she progresses and succeeds, more financial opportunities will come her way."
Following the completion of the tournament, Kim will take in some preparation for her professional career beyond bowling. She is among a select group chosen for the Career in Sports Forum, which is sponsored by the NCAA. The event runs May 11-14 in Indianapolis, Ind., and helps current and former student athletes learn about moving into careers in athletics, with emphasis on coaching and intercollegiate athletics. This program emphasizes the foundation and skills to become a coach or administrator in athletics.
"I appreciate this look into careers beyond being an athlete," said Roe, "in coaching and at schools. For me, this is also about exposing the world to bowling."
As a captain and leader for the Lady Wildcat program, Roe demonstrated the skills to work with other bowlers in helping her teammates in technique and the mental aspects of the game, even when unable to bowl herself. Coming from a family in which both parents are bowling coaches, the path would suit her well, but the professional playing path is still quite warm.
"Once I'm done playing, I see myself working at a school," said Roe, an Elementary Education major at B-CU, "but also as a coach at a high school or even at a college, to pass on what I've learned over my career."
"It is a perfect opportunity for her," concluded Coach O'Neal, "and it will allow her to grow personally and professionally, while representing Bethune-Cookman University, her family, and the city of Daytona Beach.
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