'Vivacious' Ricki Williams excels at bowling, academics

Ricki Williams

Ricki Williams

Bowling used to be a hobby 蹤獲扦junior Ricki Williams practiced in her spare time. Since joining the 蹤獲扦 bowling team in fall 2006, it has become a defining part of her life.

As a member of a team whose legacy includes 15 national championships, she has grown and showcased her talent well. In addition to receiving recognition in her sport, Williams, 21, has also excelled academically at 蹤獲扦 as an integrated marketing communications major.

Les Anderson, associate professor and director of the Elliott School of Communication, considers Williams a role model for other students.

Les Anderson

Les Anderson

Shes real vivacious, outgoing and a solid student, Anderson said. She shows a good image of the university.

Long before she found her way to 蹤獲扦, however, Williams began bowling when she was 5 years old while her father, who also bowls, was in the military. Frequent trips to the bowling alley on base were something fun to do with her family.

Her father has been an inspiration to her as she has developed throughout her career in bowling. He taught her the importance of maintaining a good attitude in competition, and Williams has come to believe that attitude is everything in sports.

Perhaps it was this positive outlook combined with more than 25 hours of practice each week that helped her achieve success in bowling. By the time she had graduated from Wichita High School South, she had earned the best scoring average among Wichita high schools in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

After 16 years of developing in her sport, Williams said she no longer gets nervous before a competition. Instead, she gets energized.

Its one of the best highs of your life, she said.

In 2007, Williams was awarded the Professional Bowling Associations Billy Welu Scholarship, which recognizes exemplary qualities in college students competing in bowling. She also finished 10th at the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships.

More recently, Williams made the 2008 Junior Olympic team along with 蹤獲扦 bowling teammate Emily Maier. The two will represent the United States in the worlds largest youth bowling tournament this summer.

Williams said making the team helped her realize her abilities.

Among the many planned tour destinations is Beijing in July, which will host the Olympics just one month later.

Longtime 蹤獲扦 bowling head coach Gordon Vadakin said he has found Williams to be relentlessly positive and that she has a magnetism and charisma that holds the team together. He was as happy for her as anybody when he heard she had made the Junior Olympic team.

She excels because of who she is. Coaching her wasnt about changing anything in her, he said. All we did was guide her into a little more knowledge. She is going to be very successful.

Williams plans to graduate in May 2009 and hopes to become a spokeswoman for youth bowling.