Bowling Team Gets Ready to “Roll Wave”

The familiar Tulane battle cry “Roll Wave” is about to take on new meaning as the university's newest varsity sport, women's bowling, starts taking shape for competition this fall under head coach Hayley Beavis.

Beavis arrived at Tulane in late April and her first order of business is recruiting — talking with coaches at top high school bowling programs around the nation. “We only have a few months left before the season starts, so there's a lot to do in a short time,” she says.

She needs five bowlers to fill the team but hopes to recruit at least eight. There's already a promising development for the new team. Beavis discovered there are a number of bowlers attending Tulane who competed in high school.

Another positive for recruiting is the team's venue: Rock 'n' Bowl, the music-and-bowling venue on South Carrollton Avenue that is a popular hangout for students.

Rock 'n' Bowl proprietor John Blancher is ready to welcome the university's bowlers. “We couldn't be more pleased that the home of Rock 'n' Bowl is now the home of Tulane bowling,” he says.

In its first year, the Tulane team will practice at Rock 'n' Bowl but will compete on the road. Beavis hopes to schedule the team to compete in at least eight tournaments for the winter sport, which takes place from October through April.

She says Rock 'n' Bowl “is a great facility that is close to campus, and it is my hope to build a tradition that includes the Tulane student body and the entire university family.” Beavis wants to plan some events at the venue to introduce her team to Green Wave fans.

A native of Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, England, Beavis competed at Webber International University, leading her team to a national championship and later serving as graduate assistant coach. In the NCAA, more than 35 Division I schools sponsor women's bowling, including in-state schools Louisiana Tech and Southern and Grambling State universities.