Culver-Stockton College bowling head coach Derek Sapp is new to the “Hill” this year and has been preparing the men and women bowlers for the 2020 season. Sapp has an extensive history in bowling, starting with his family owning their own bowling center since 1985. He was a part of two national championships at Western Illinois University, bowled on the PBA tour, and won gold medals three times at an international competition on Team USA.

Sapp is hoping to improve the teams’ communication and teamwork skills as well as spare-shooting. “My challenge is to make the individuals better along with making the entire unit better at the same time. This is done just like traditional team sports – through communication, teamwork, and everyone working towards a common goal. A successful program has every individual working to make the team better and in the process that will make you better as an individual both athletically and as a person in general.”

Sapp is excited about the opportunity he has to be a part of a collegiate competition again. “There is nothing better than team bowling. College bowling was four very special years for me and I hope that I can give that same feeling to my players when they leave my program.”

Due to COVID-19, the USBC season has been postponed until Jan. 2021, but luckily Sapp has found a few tournaments for the teams to compete. They will be traveling to William Penn University for the Storm Navy and Gold Classic the weekend of Oct. 17 and to the NAIA Jayhawk Classic the weekend of Oct. 31. As of right now, spectators are allowed at the Storm Navy and Gold Classic Tournament but not the NAIA Jayhawk Classic but is subject to change.