Bowling coach gets a strike with national award
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
P.J. Haggerty is just one of the many students Glenn Carlson has coached throughout the years. Haggerty was 2004-2005 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player. |
By Kirstie Hettinga
The Collegian
WHEN GLENN CARLSON won the Kerm Helmer Horizon Award he didn’t even know he had been nominated. The award recognizes his work with young bowlers.
“This was a total surprise to me,” he said.
Carlson, a Fresno State alumnus, founded the bowling program at Fresno State 36 years ago. “I’m the only remaining original one from the student union,” he said. Carlson’s office is next to the bowling alley, where you can hear the crashing of the pins. He said you learn to tune it out.
Though thud of bowling balls is not necessarily music to his ears, Carlson’s involvement in bowling goes back to the 1950s when he was a student at Fresno State.
“Took a PE class and I kind of got hooked on the game,” he said.
Carlson said the game has changed, he said it is less competitive and more recreational. He also said it was his background in softball that contributed to his knack for bowling.
“I don’t know if there is any natural abilities for any game,” he said, “I always enjoyed the game, there’s a lot of camaraderie in it, a lot of competition. It’s an easy way to meet people.”
One person Carlson met while bowling was Kerm Helmer, whom his award is named after. “It turned out to be kind of special to me because the person that the award is named for is a personal friend of mine,” he said. Carlson said they met at a collegiate competition and have been friends ever since.
Carlson bowled professionally and said he was relatively successful but gave it up when he didn’t like life on the road.
Carlson hasn’t kept track of the number of perfect games he has bowled, but he can tell you the first time he hit 300. “August the 15th 1959. That was pretty exciting.”
Carlson gave up bowling last year for health reasons and also travels less frequently. His talent and legacy is continuing through the students he works with today.
P.J. Haggerty, a junior criminology major, was named Collegiate Bowler of the Year last year. His mother, Debbie, and assistant coach Chris Preble nominated Carlson for the Helmer award.
Haggerty has been bowling since the age of 2. Haggerty chose Fresno State because of its bowling program.
“It was mostly Glenn, just because he is such a great coach, he’s the one who pretty much invited me here,” he said.
Haggerty said he had the opportunity to attend other colleges. “I chose here because of Glenn, I heard so many good things about him.” Carlson has helped Haggerty as a bowler, mentally and physically and as a student.
“He’s given me some tips about life in general and some college stuff. He’s like a father away from home,” Haggerty said.
Carlson has led the Fresno State women’s bowling team to 12 national championship appearances and the men’s team to six. He said he would like to see the women’s team compete in the NCAA.
The Fresno State team is leaving for a national competition Thursday, Carlson won’t be traveling with them except in spirit.
Carlson’s health keeps him from non-local travel and even keeps him from bowling for fun, “I hope it’s not given up forever, but we’ll see,” he said.
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