Stand-out Shocker bowler Jazreel Tan graduated from Wichita State this spring with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. A right-handed bowler, Tan is a four-time First Team All-American who has twice bowled a perfect game.
Shocker bowler Jazreel Tan ’13 is the Collegiate Bowler of the Year for the third year running, winning the women’s award presented annually by the International Bowling Media Association in the United States.
STUDENT PROFILE
Tan, originally from Singapore and a WSU sports management graduate this spring, also earned First Team All-American honors for the fourth consecutive year, becoming only the second woman to achieve that feat. This season, the Lady Shockers fell short in earning a 20th national title for the Shocker Bowling program at the Xbowling Intercollegiate Team Championships this April in Lincoln, Neb. The women completed the tournament with a third place finish.
After the tournament, as Tan contemplated her upcoming graduation from Wichita State, she penned these thoughts about her time in Wichita as a Wichita State student and bowler:
The thought that this was going to be my last year in America, my last year in Wichita State University, and my last year with the Shocker Bowling program, has passed through my mind a lot this whole year. My college bowling career has ended. And my time in America and at WSU is really coming to an end. I never thought this day would come. These past four years have been one hell of a journey. It’s been a roller coaster ride with probably more downs than ups. We have had so many arguments, differences, fights, sweat and tears, but at the end of the day, we started as one, and ended as one.
Yes, of course I wish my college bowling career and the week could have ended differently. But what we have gone through and what we have accomplished this year, I couldn’t be more proud of the girls for what we have achieved. A good result and winning would be awesome, but putting it all into perspective, winning really isn’t the most important thing. Knowing that you have a team that believes in you, and will stand with you no matter what, seeing this team grow, seeing this team come together despite all our differences, is one of the best feelings in the world.
I would like to thank both our coaches, Coach V (Gordon Vadakin ’82) and Coach L (Mark Lewis). Thank you for giving me the chance to represent this amazing program. I am very thankful for all the opportunities, coaching, advice, knowledge and nagging — hehe — that you guys have given me. You both always have so much confidence and believe in me even when I don’t myself and I am never going to forget that.
It sucks that my time with the program has come to an end, but the past four years have been amazing, I have learnt and gained so much. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it with any other group of girls, or guys. I’m going to miss this program and this team so much. I am so humbled and honored to have had the chance to bowl for the best collegiate bowling program in America.
This team will always have a special place in my heart. My time here has allowed me to grow so much, as a teammate, a leader, a friend and more importantly, as a person. Not forgetting, all the friendships made. I just want to say a huge thank you, to all the people who have been a part of my journey. This is an essay but no words can express how I really feel. I am so grateful, and can’t thank you all enough.
Once a Shocker, always a Shocker!
JAZREEL TAN
Hometown: Singapore
2013: Senior, 4th year on team
Major: Sports Management
Grad Year: Spring 2013
Membership: USBC-Adult
No. of Years Bowling: 11
High Game: 300 (twice)
High Series: 804
Honors: United States Collegiate Bowler of the Year (3), First Team All-American (4)
