Van Wert native to coach college bowling

Van Wert independent sports/submitted information

SYLVANIA — A  2010 graduate of Van Wert High School has been chosen to lead Lourdes University’s new bowling team.

Torrie (Decker) Bartalone as the Gray Wolves’ first head men’s and women’s bowling coach. She will assemble both teams as they prepare for competition in the program’s inaugural season of 2018-2019.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to work at Lourdes University and coach the bowling team,” Bartalone said. “It is going to be an awesome journey to watch the program grow from the ground up. I hope to build not only strong bowlers, but also successful students and great people in our community.”

Bartalone arrives at Lourdes from Robert Morris University (Ill.) where she has spent the last season as an assistant coach. She also has spent time as an assistant at Calumet College of Saint Joseph for three seasons. She is currently in the process of obtaining her United States Bowling Congress (USBC) gold certification, which is the highest level of certification a coach can achieve. She is currently a silver certified coach, and has also served as a NCAA Division I Head Tournament Director.

“Torrie is truly a student of the game,” Lourdes University Athletic Director Jo Ann Gordon stated. “She is extremely passionate about bowling and has an excellent track record recruiting. I am excited for her to be a part of the Lourdes community as she is committed to the mission of both the athletic department and the University.”

Bartalone earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the National Tenpin Coaches Association in 2014-2015 while bowling at Valparaiso University, where she was also named to the Southland Bowling League All-Tournament Team as a senior.

Her 198.9 scoring average as a senior ranks third on the school’s single season list while her career 191.6 average also ranks third all-time for Crusaders’ charts. All three seasons she bowled at Valpraiso, the Crusaders finished ranked in the top-20 nationally. Bartalone began her collegiate bowling career at Robert Morris (Ill.) where she spent two seasons.

Bartalone is a 2015 graduate of Valparaiso, earning her Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She also has an Associates of Health Sciences degree from Robert Morris (Ill.) as a fitness and exercise major.

Lourdes University is located in Sylvania and is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC).