A look back at USA Bowling

Organization moved through many stages on way to USBC

The United States is no stranger to international bowling competition. Bowling on a global scale for the U.S. stretches back several decades and has achieved many milestones along the way.

The country’s history on the world bowling stage can be traced to the 1930s, when Dr. Joe Thum organized teams that traveled to Europe.

In 1961, the U.S. became a member of the Federation International des Quilleurs, recognized since 1979 as bowling’s worldwide governing body by the International Olympic Committee. The U.S. made its official international debut in the 1963 FIQ World Championships in Mexico, dominating the competition.

The U.S. Team Trials began in 1971 and brought together top American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament finishers and leading collegiate bowlers to determine competitors in FIQ and other international events.

In the 1980s, things took off for the U.S. national bowling program.

The United States Olympic Committee, along with the ABC and the Women’s International Bowling Congress, jointly served as bowling’s governing body since the sport’s acceptance by the USOC in 1986.

The Team USA program – initiated by ABC and WIBC to replace the U.S. Team Trials – was started to fulfill ABC constitutional requirements calling for a national amateur championship. The first national championship was held in 1986. Dan Nadeau of Las Vegas and Cora Fiebig of Madison Heights, Mich., were the first men’s and women’s national amateur champions, respectively. Two years later, the U.S. competed in the Olympic Games in South Korea as an exhibition sport.

In 1989, the United States Tenpin Bowling Federation was founded by the ABC and WIBC and became bowling’s governing body. Four years later, the organization changed its name to what it was known as until 2005 – USA Bowling. Governed by a 12-member board which includes three athletes, USA Bowling was the world-wide representative of the United States in international competition. USA Bowling was recognized as the sport’s governing body in the United States by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the FIQ.

USA Bowling coordinated all amateur international competition promoted by USOC or FIQ, and conducted the National Amateur Championships. In addition, it was the leader in providing instruction and coaching programs to help bowlers advance in ability.

Koenig, Borden guiding forces

During the late 1980s and early 90s, two figures had a profound effect on shaping U.S. bowling for years to come – Jerry Koenig and Fred Borden.

Over the years, Koenig was instrumental in placing bowling in the global spotlight. In 1987, he was the guiding force in achieving medal status in the Pan American Games. In 1988, he was the administrative coordinator for bowling’s participation in the Olympic Games in South Korea. And in 1989, he was the principal advocate in achieving USA Bowling’s recognition by the USOC as the National Governing Body for the sport.

Koenig was appointed as the organization’s executive director at that time, later also becoming its CEO, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2003.

During his tenure, Koenig’s No. 1 priority has been and continues to be supporting and promoting Team USA through ongoing education and superior coaching.

Koenig said the major difference in the U.S. national bowling program from when he began his term as CEO/Executive Director in 1989 and today was that it became an independent system (USA Bowling and Team USA) rather than a process under the administration of ABC and WIBC.

“It created separate entities to build the best possible U.S. team,” Koeing said. “In my opinion that occurred.”

While Koenig was the dedicated leader from an administrative perspective, Borden was the heart and soul of Team USA, guiding the national amateur team to international prominence.

The personable Borden – known to his friends as “Pards” – coached Team USA to numerous gold medals in FIQ Zone and World championships and the Pan American Games before originally retiring in 1996. He returned to the job in 2000 and retired after the 2003 season. Borden led Team USA to great success in 2003, as the squad captured 64 medals in international competition.

Team USA memories

A great honor of Borden’s teaching career came in 1989 when he was named head coach and advisor for Team USA.

Among the highlights of Borden’s years as Team USA head coach was the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, when Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the competition as a spectator. Perhaps as an intimidation factor, Castro showed up at the bowling center with his entourage just before the competition. After Pat Healey Jr. rolled an important strike, Borden turned toward Castro and shook his fist in the air. Team USA won gold medals in the men’s and women’s team event and Healey captured the men’s individual event gold medal.

“We dominated the Pan Am Games that year,” Borden said. “Fidel Castro had to salute the American flag. That was a time. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your athletes on the medal stand as they’re playing the National Anthem.”

One bowler whom Borden coached and who knows something about the medal stand is Diandra Asbaty. The seven-time Team USA member – generally regarded as one of the best female bowlers in the world – won four medals in the 2003 FIQ World Championships in Malaysia.

“It was Fred Borden’s last tournament as our coach and everyone felt that they wanted to pay tribute to him by performing the best we could,” Asbaty said. “To me, the biggest tournament in the world is the World Championships and to have such a great showing in a country where bowling is really respected was incredible.”

Coaching program has great influence

As part of USA Bowling and Team USA’s history, Borden and Asbaty know first hand how integral coaching was to the success of Team USA and USA Bowling.

Under Borden, a major development for Team USA and USA Bowling was the coaching program. Though Borden will be remembered for leading Team USA to success, his name also is inherently linked with USA Bowling Coaching (now known as USBC Coaching).

A visionary and leader in the bowling industry, Borden developed and authored the core curriculum for the USA Bowling Coaching program, the only bowling coaching program recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. USA Bowling Coaching, which Borden founded in 1989, today has blossomed into a complete program that trains and certifies quality coaches who can instruct bowlers of all ages and abilities.

The coaching emphasis Borden started greatly improved the pool of competitive bowlers in the United States and continues to have a profound influence on the sport as a general instructional element across all levels of bowling through the USA Bowling Coaching program.

“Ninety percent of the credit (for the coaching program) goes to Fred Borden,” Koenig said. “Others supported and helped, but Fred continued as the driving force.”

Borden, in turn, credited Koenig for his role in helping develop a top-notch coaching program.

“USA Bowling will be indebted to Jerry for his insight and leadership to start the coaching program. During his tenure, his major concern was education and the coaching of our sport,” Borden said.

A bold new era under USBC

Both Borden and Koenig see a United States national bowling program with tremendous opportunities under USBC. With a streamlined, more efficient operation, more resources could be devoted to the continued growth of USBC High School, USBC Collegiate and the USBC Coaching programs, which together can stock and coach a tremendous pool of athletes to keep the U.S. strong in international competition in an atmosphere of increasing competition, Borden said.

“The world is improving,” Borden said. “I think we have a great vehicle (in USBC). With more college and high school coaches I think we have a nice future ahead of us. We have to cultivate high school coaches. I have a lot of faith in Bob (Maki, Director of USBC Coaching). I think he’ll do a lot of good things.”

It will just be another chapter in a long history of United States bowling on the international scene.