Jacksonville State University bowling team visits the White House

The Jacksonville State women’s bowling team was among 40 NCAA National Championship teams honored at the White House on Monday at the annual White House College Champions Day.

Teams participated in a tour of the White House, concluding on the South Lawn where Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the championship teams.

“On behalf of our president and Dr. Biden, I am honored to welcome all of you to the White House to celebrate the achievements of these great athletes,” Harris said. “In America, tens of millions of people play a sport as a child, and the best of the best grow up to become national champions. Here today we have seven undefeated teams, 11 repeat champions and 20 first-time winners.”

Jax State was represented on stage by National Bowler of the Year Rebecca Hagerman, who stood on the White House steps with other members of National Championship teams during the ceremony.

It was a historic first season of competition for head coach Shannon O’Keefe and the Jax State bowling program in 2024 finishing with a 107-24 overall record that led to 10 event victories, the Conference USA title and National Championship.

“To be recognized at the White House is a memory this team will have forever,” said JSU athletic director Greg Seitz. “It was a great experience and an honor to represent Jacksonville State in our nation’s capitol.”

The Gamecocks were the class of collegiate bowling in 2023-24. They earned the first unanimous No. 1 ranking by a team since 2017. At season’s end, graduate seniors Hagerman and Crystal Elliott were honored by CUSA for the seasons they put together.

Hagerman was named the CUSA Bowler of the Year and Elliott the CUSA Newcomer of the Year. O’Keefe was also selected by her peers as the CUSA Coach of the Year.

O’Keefe, the seven-time NTCA National Coach of the Year, was hired to start the program in May of 2023 and wasted no time in elevating the Gamecocks to the top of the collegiate bowling world.