Wikipedia

Southland Bowling League

The Southland Bowling League (SBL) was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bowling-only conference. The SBL was founded in 2015 for schools that sponsor women's bowling teams, but did not have bowling sponsored by their primary conferences. The SBL champion received an automatic bid to the NCAA Bowling Championship since the NCAA first awarded such bids in 2018. While the conference operated independently, administrative services were provided by the Southland Conference.[1][2] The SBL merged into Conference USA (CUSA) after the 2022–23 season, with CUSA inheriting the SBL's automatic championship berth.[3]

Southland Bowling League
AssociationNCAA
Founded2015
Ceased2023
Sports fielded
DivisionNational Collegiate
No. of teams8
HeadquartersFrisco, Texas
Official websiteSouthland Bowling

The SBL received at least three bids to the NCAA Championship in each season of its existence. Following the inaugural SBL Championship, four league teams (Arkansas State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Vanderbilt) received at-large bids to the 2015 NCAA Championships, filling half of the eight available spots.[4][5] The same four teams would receive at-large bids to the 2016 NCAA Bowling Championships[6] and 2017 NCAA Bowling Championships.[7] In 2018, the first year for automatic bids to the NCAA Championship and also the first year for a 10-team championship event, Vanderbilt earned the automatic bid and Arkansas State and Sam Houston received at-large bids. In 2019, Sam Houston State earned the automatic bid, while Arkansas State, Stephen F. Austin, and Vanderbilt received at-large bids.[8] In 2021, Vanderbilt earned the automatic bid, while Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston, and Youngstown State received at-large bids.[9] In 2022, six of the eight members made the NCAA Bowling Championships field with Vanderbilt earning the automatic bid, while Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Youngstown State all receiving at-large bids.[10] In the league's final season in 2023, the same six members from 2022 made the NCAA Bowling Championships field, with Arkansas State earning the automatic bid.[11]

In July 2021, it was announced that Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the Western Athletic Conference. After the two schools announced they would join the WAC in fall 2022, they were expelled by the Southland Conference and joined the WAC a year ahead of the originally planned schedule.[12][13] Despite leaving the Southland Conference in all other sports, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin remained in the SBL and both participated in the 2022 and 2023 SBL Championships.

Final members

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All of the SBL's final members now compete in CUSA bowling.

School Location Founded Type Approximate
Enrollment 		Joined Nickname Primary conference
during SBL membership 		Current primary
conference
Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR 1909 Public 13,600 2015 Red Wolves Sun Belt Conference
Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA 1894 Public 11,300 2015 Lady Techsters Conference USA
Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX 1879 Public 19,600 2015 Bearkats Southland Conference (2015–2021)
Western Athletic Conference (2021–2023) 		Conference USA
Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX 1921 Public 13,000 2015 Ladyjacks Southland Conference (2015–2021)
Western Athletic Conference (2021–2023) 		Southland Conference
Tulane University New Orleans, LA 1834 Private 13,500 2015 Green Wave American Athletic Conference
Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN 1859 Private
(Independent Lutheran) 		4,500 2015 Beacons Missouri Valley Conference
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 1873 Private 12,700 2015 Commodores Southeastern Conference
Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH 1908 Public 11,400 2018 Penguins Horizon League

On August 7, 2018, the SBL and Youngstown State University announced that Youngstown State's bowling program was joining the league for competition beginning in the 2018–2019 season. Youngstown State replaced Monmouth, who accepted an invitation to join the MEAC.[14]


Previous members

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School Location Founded Type Approximate
Enrollment 		Nickname Joined Left Primary conference
during SBL membership 		Current bowling conference
Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ 1933 Private 6,200 Hawks 2015 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference[a] Northeast Conference
  1. ^ Monmouth joined the Colonial Athletic Association, now known as the Coastal Athletic Association, in 2022.

SBL Championship

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Year Venue
Location 		Champion Runner-up Third Fourth Fifth Seventh
2015[15] Del-Mar Lanes
Houston, TX 		Vanderbilt Arkansas State Valparaiso Sam Houston State Monmouth
Stephen F. Austin 		Louisiana Tech
Tulane
2016[16] AMF All Star Lanes
Kenner, LA 		Arkansas State Sam Houston State Vanderbilt Stephen F. Austin Monmouth
Tulane 		Louisiana Tech
Valparaiso
2017[17] Hijinx Lanes
Jonesboro, AR 		Vanderbilt Arkansas State Stephen F. Austin Tulane Monmouth
Sam Houston State 		Louisiana Tech
Valparaiso
2018[18] USA Bowl Dallas
Dallas, TX 		Arkansas State Stephen F. Austin Vanderbilt Monmouth Louisiana Tech
Sam Houston State 		Tulane
Valparaiso
2019[19] USA Bowl Dallas
Dallas, TX 		Sam Houston State Vanderbilt Stephen F. Austin Arkansas State Louisiana Tech
Tulane 		Valparaiso
Youngstown State
2021[20] Colonial Bowling Lanes
Harahan, LA 		Vanderbilt Louisiana Tech Sam Houston State Arkansas State Stephen F. Austin
Youngstown State 		Tulane
Valparaiso
2022[21] Colonial Bowling Lanes
Harahan, LA 		Vanderbilt Youngstown State Louisiana Tech Arkansas State Sam Houston
Tulane 		Stephen F. Austin
Valparaiso
2023[22] Rowlett Bowlarama
Rowlett, TX 		Arkansas State Sam Houston Louisiana Tech Youngstown State Vanderbilt
Stephen F. Austin 		Tulane
Valparaiso

All-Tournament Teams

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Year Most Valuable Bowler Team
2015[23] Nicole Mosesso
(Vanderbilt) 		Sarah Lokker (Arkansas State) • Sadie Jasinski (Valparaiso) • Stephanie Schwartz (Stephen F. Austin) • Torrie Decker (Valparaiso) • Giselle Poss (Vanderbilt)
2016[24] Jordan Richard
(Arkansas State) 		Stephanie Zavala (Sam Houston State) • Brooke Wood (Arkansas State) • Jadee Scott-Jones (Arkansas State) • Carrie Hopkinson (Sam Houston State) • Katelyn Reth (Monmouth)
2017[25] Katie Stark
(Vanderbilt) 		Maria Bulanova (Vanderbilt) • Jordan Richard (Arkansas State) • Stephanie Schwartz (Stephen F. Austin) • Janine Kuwahara (Sam Houston State) • Tiera Gulum (Tulane)
2018[26] Jordan Richard
(Arkansas State) 		Leah Glazer (Arkansas State) • Stephanie Schwartz (Stephen F. Austin) • Dakota Faichnie (Stephen F. Austin) • Kristin Quah (Vanderbilt) • Jackie Evans (Monmouth)
2019[27] Bea Hernandez
(Sam Houston State) 		Madysen Keller (Sam Houston State) • Maria Bulanova (Vanderbilt) • Samantha Gainor (Vanderbilt) • Sarah Gill (Stephen F. Austin) • Denishya Waller (Arkansas State)
2021[28] Mabel Cummins
(Vanderbilt) 		Angelica Anthony (Vanderbilt) • Allie Leiendecker (Louisiana Tech) • Danielle Jedlicki (Louisiana Tech) • Denise Blankenzee (Sam Houston State) • Carlene Beyer (Stephen F. Austin)
2022[29] Mabel Cummins
(Vanderbilt) 		Amanda Naujakoas (Vanderbilt) • Emma Dockery (Youngstown State) • Emma Wrenn (Youngstown State) • Allie Leiendecker (Louisiana Tech) • Brooklyn Buchanan (Arkansas State)
2023[30] Maggie Thoma
(Arkansas State) 		Faith Welch (Arkansas State) • Elise Chambers (Sam Houston) • Denise Blankenzee (Sam Houston) • Megan Grams (Youngstown State) • Lindsay Manning (Louisiana Tech)

NCAA Bowling Championship participation

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Source:[31]

Teams Appearances Years Best Result
Arkansas State
15
 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Runner-up 2008, 2021, 2023
Louisiana Tech
3
 2021, 2022, 2023 Regional Finalist 2022
Sam Houston
11
 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Champion 2014
Stephen F. Austin
6
 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 Champion 2016, 2019
Valparaiso
1
 2012 Tied 5th 2012
Vanderbilt
17
 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Champion 2007, 2018, 2023
Youngstown State
3
 2021, 2022, 2023 4th 2021

Bold: Champion
Italics: Runner-Up

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New Southland Bowling League Established". Southland Conference. January 20, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "Southland Bowling League Formed". College Sports Business News. January 21, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Conference USA to Add Bowling for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). Conference USA. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "Four Southland Bowling League Teams in NCAA Championship Field". Southland Conference. March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "National Collegiate women's bowling championship field for 2015 announced". NCAA. March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "FOUR SOUTHLAND BOWLING LEAGUE TEAMS IN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD". Southland Conference. March 30, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  7. ^ "2017 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship field announced". NCAA. March 29, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Southland Bowling League Lands Four Squads in NCAA Tournament". southland.org. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  9. ^ NCAA.com. "Nebraska wins the 2021 NC bowling championship | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  10. ^ "National Collegiate women's bowling championship field announced". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  11. ^ "Southland sends six teams to 2023 NCAA Bowling Championship". www.southland.org. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  12. ^ Blum, Sam (January 14, 2021). "As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Youngstown State Joins Southland Bowling League". Southland Conference. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  15. ^ "2015 Southland Bowling League Championship" (PDF). Southland Conference. March 22, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "2016 Southland Bowling League Championship" (PDF). Southland Conference. March 26, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  17. ^ "2017 Southland Bowling League Championship" (PDF). Southland Conference. March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  18. ^ "2018 Southland Bowling League Championship" (PDF). Southland Conference. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  19. ^ "SBL 2019 Bracket - FINAL (PDF) - Southland Conference" (PDF). southland.org. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  20. ^ "SBL 2021 Bracket - Round 5 (PDF) - Southland Conference" (PDF). www.southland.org. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bracket (PDF) - Southland Conference" (PDF). www.southland.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  22. ^ "2023 Southland Bowling League Championship - Southland Conference". www.southland.org. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  23. ^ "Vanderbilt Wins Inaugural Southland Bowling League Championship". Southland Conference. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  24. ^ "No. 1 Arkansas State Claims Southland Bowling League Championship Victory". Southland Conference. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Vanderbilt Downs Defending Champion Red Wolves in Soutland Title Rematch". Southland Conference. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Arkansas State Sweeps Stephen F. Austin for Soutland Bowling Championship". Southland Conference. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Bearkats Finish Perfect to Claim 2019 Southland Bowling Championship". southland.org. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  28. ^ "Vanderbilt Claims Southland Bowling League Title". www.southland.org. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  29. ^ "Vanderbilt Claims Back-to-Back Southland Bowling Tournament Titles". www.southland.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  30. ^ "Arkansas State howls back from deficit to win 2023 Southland Bowling League Championship". www.southland.org. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  31. ^ "National Collegiate Bowling" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
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