Nebraska bowling’s competition at NCAA championships has sense of familiarity

Nebraska bowling is headed back to the NCAA Championships. And many familiar foes will be joining the Huskers in Las Vegas this weekend.

NU, McKendree, Arkansas State and Vanderbilt are in the final four of the double-elimination bracket that starts Friday. But just how familiar are the programs?

Bryan O’Keefe, McKendree director of bowling, and Nebraska coach Paul Klempa used to be teammates in Lincoln.

“Bryan O’Keefe was a member of the men’s bowling program here in the early ’90s,” Klempa said. “He’s a close friend.”

Arkansas State coach Justin Kostick coached the Husker men’s team from 2004 to 2006 and also bowled at NU.

“And I coached him,” Klempa said. “So there’s three of us out of the four (teams) that are all Nebraska connected.”

That’s no surprise. NU has long been the blueblood of collegiate bowling, boasting more titles than any other program (six) as well as being the only one to appear in every NCAA tournament.

Klempa attributed that sustained success to the system and culture Nebraska has built.

“There’s no real magic secret to it,” he said. “It’s just doing the right things and having a good system within your program of how to teach people the game, physically and emotionally and mentally.”

The other three programs are also regulars in the finals. Vanderbilt and McKendree have each won two national titles.

“I think it’s a testament to how well coached those programs are,” Klempa said. “It might look easy when you’ve got the same teams that keep on vying for a title every year, but it’s not. If you slip a little or you get a little lazy, someone will go above or go around you.”

Nebraska is coming off a strong run at regionals last weekend in Pittsburgh, but it was a short turnaround to the championships. The Huskers returned to Lincoln on Sunday and departed for Las Vegas on Wednesday, giving them two days to practice.

That lack of preparation made Thursday’s two-hour practice especially important. It’s the only chance to get a feel for the lanes and test different equipment, key to a good start. And, hopefully, a strong finish.

“If you’re spending the first match still unsure and trying to make adjustments and trying different equipment, you’re going to fall behind,” Klempa said. “It’s really critical that going into Friday you’ve made the right decisions regarding equipment and lane play.”

But the Huskers are confident and have prepared all season for the opportunity to win title No. 7. Morale is high, the vibe is good and NU is ready for the challenge, the coach said.

“When you get that group on the road that’s well prepared and confident and clutch, it can take you a long way,” Klempa said. “And that’s this group. We’ve got a good group.”

Nebraska faces defending champ McKendree in the opening round at South Point Bowling Plaza at 11 a.m. Friday, then either Vanderbilt or Arkansas State in Round 2. The final is set for 8 p.m. Saturday.