FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2016

CONTACT:
Gordon Vadakin
Phone (316) 978-7655
Fax (316) 978-6056
email - shocker.bowling@wichita.edu
www.wichita.edu/bowling

WICHITA, Kan. –Shocker alum Francois Lavoie (2011-2015) rolled a perfect 300 game on television en route to his first ever PBA title, a major nonetheless, the US Open in Las Vegas, Nev. last night.

Lavoie qualified as the No. 2 seed for the live telecast, which aired on CBS Sports, and faced the No. 5 seed Shawn Maldonado. This was Lavoie’s first live telecast, but one could not tell by his even-keeled emotions.

“It was pretty exciting to qualify for my first live show. This doesn't happen too often in our sport so I was looking forward to the experience. We bowled pretty late, so I had all day to think about it. Nerves were definitely there during the show, but I really don't think that’s a bad thing,” Lavoie said. “I just reminded myself to stick to the process and focused on controlling my breathing.”

His first match was perfect, literally, as he rolled 12 strikes and shot 300, the first one ever bowled on television during the US Open. It was Lavoie’s second 300 of the tournament. He earned a $10,000 bonus from Pepsi for shooting 300 on television.

“After the eighth frame, I knew I had won the game so I went back to my ball rep and asked about trying something different, to make sure I had options during the title match. He asked “don't you know about the bonus?” and I actually didn't. So once he said that, I decided to stick with what I was doing and go for it,” Lavoie said.

In the title match, Lavoie continued his streak starting with four straight strikes before finally leaving a two pin, which he converted. After five frames, he had quite the lead built up on the No. 1 seed Marshall Kent. Kent started to strike as Lavoie lost his look a little. Lavoie left a few combination spares which he did spare. The highlight of the match was a split conversion in the eighth frame, as he picked up the 3-4-6-10. Kent continued to strike until a 10-pin ended his run.

“After Marshall left the 10-pin, I knew I just needed a mark in the last two frames,” Lavoie said. “I made a move in the ninth after going high but didn't make a great shot. It wasn't until after I spared the 3-6-9-10 that I realized I had won. I smiled to myself a little and then tried to just make a good shot in the 10th.”

Lavoie, who remained pretty emotionless the entire match, had a huge smile on his face as he walked off the approach after his game was finished. His final margin of victory was 34 as he won 228-194.

Lavoie said sticking to the process was something he has focused on for a number of years now and that turned out to be the key to his success.

“Staying in the moment and focusing on my pre-shot routines, things we focus on at Wichita State, were my keys to success tonight. With a live show and the US Open title on the line, there are so many ways to get distracted from the present moment. The pre-shot routine kept me grounded. I make sure during practices and other events I’m always doing the same thing the same way. That way it doesn't matter what’s at stake, you’re setting yourself up for another shot of bowling. I also took a deep breath before bowling to get my heart rate down.”

“I try to approach every tournament the same, so it hasn't really hit me that I won the US Open. I tend to treat each tournament the same and not put any extra emphasis on one over the other; I think that helps with the nerves as well. After all, it is just bowling,” Lavoie said. “This is something I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I’ve made a lot of commitments and life choices for something like this. To see it happen is amazing.”

“Francois has a unique set of mental and physical skills. It’s awesome to watch him use those to be successful. He is a special person, a special athlete, and we couldn't be more proud of him!” head coach Gordon Vadakin said.

Lavoie is the ninth alum of the Shocker Bowling program to win a PBA title and the 44th title won by players in the program.

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The Rhatigan Student Center has been the major financial and administrative supporter of the Wichita State University bowling program since 1959.