OXFORD – The Inaugural season for Jacksonville State bowling hit the lanes for the first time on Friday afternoon, when the Gamecocks rolled past UAB in an exhibition match at Big Time Entertainment.
 
Jax State won all three portions of their match with the Blazers, winning the traditional game, 989-786, the Baker Format Game, 983-862, and the Baker Format Matchplay, 4-1. It marked the first competition for the Gamecocks since announcing the addition of bowling as their 18^th varsity sport in January.
 
The hiring of head coach Shannon O'Keefe and Operations Director Bryan O'Keefe, who'd won four National Championships in nine seasons at McKendree, followed in May and they began building a roster that comprised of former national champions and All-Americans. Many of those came with the O'Keefe's from McKendree.
 
"It feels really good to get back on the lanes with the kids," Shannon O'Keefe said. "We're very fortunate that six of them came with us from our previous institution, so we know them all very, very well. Ever since we announced that we were coming to Jax State, it has been the anticipation of starting. So now that we have started, we are more than ready to get to our first tournament."
 
That first tournament will be in Orlando on October 27-29 at Destination Orlando 2023, meaning that Friday's match with UAB was an important step in preparing Jax State for their first real event that looms in three weeks. 
 
"We have never done an exhibition like this before, and a lot of it was just to introduce bowling to our community and to Jacksonville State," O'Keefe added. "We are so thankful that UAB came over to do that. 
 
"There are three kids that have never bowled for Bryan and I before, so this was the perfect opportunity for us to understand who they are closest to when everyone is lined up and what types of moves are going to work for them. It is important to know that stuff, so when crunch time happens you aren't guessing and wasting frames."
 
The other purpose of Friday's exhibition was to allow their new community to see their newest team compete. With the schedule taking the Gamecocks across the country, they won't compete in the state of Alabama once the regular season starts.
 
After a successful showing, Shannon O'Keefe hopes there can be a home tournament in the Gamecocks' future.
 
"Since Bryan and I got here, I think the number one thing people have asked us is what will bowling look like? What is that all about?" she said. "So to be able to introduce them to what college bowling at the highest level looks like was pretty awesome. Hopefully we will be able to have a home tournament next year."