On the Wave: Bowling Trio Brings International Presence to the Green Wave

Members of the Tulane women's bowling team may speak different languages and come from all across the world, but competing together and growing as a family seems to be universal.

Tulane's fast rise to national prominence may be partially attributed to its international presence. Head coach Hayley Veitch, a native of England, has been at the program's helm since its beginning in 2011, and three of the top four returning scorers from last season hail from overseas.

In only its seventh season of competition, the Green Wave's international roster has ascended to the upper echelon of the NCAA. In December the Green Wave broke into the top 10 nationally for the first time in program history, ranking No. 9 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.

The international bowlers provide major contributions to the team's success, but what the scoreboard doesn't show is the impact that the team and its support system has on the bowlers.

Senior Michelle Ng was the first international student to join the program after arriving from Singapore. After signing Ng, Veitch admits that she didn't know what to expect when her new recruit arrived.

"Michelle was kind of the guinea pig because she was the first international (student-athlete), so it was a big learning experience both for her and me," Veitch said. "There were obviously language barriers there, but she's done an extremely good job over the course of the four years."

This experiment paid off for Veitch and the team immediately, as Ng recorded a 289 game as a freshman, which still ranks atop the Green Wave all-time list. Since then, Ng has earned five all-tournament team honors, one tournament MVP and two NTCA All-America Honorable Mention awards, the first in program history.

This season, Ng is knocking down an average of 206.04 pins over 25 games and leads the team in total pins for the fourth consecutive season.

Two years after Ng joined the team, she was followed by current sophomore Isabelle Lee – also from Singapore – and Joanna Hackett from England. This year, Lee is averaging 204.69 pins in her 16 contests while Hackett is averaging 173 pins in eight games.

This recent focus on the international pipeline is no accident. Veitch believes many international students grow up in cultures that prepare them both academically and athletically for the challenges that await at Tulane.

"Obviously, I have two (bowlers) from Singapore on the team, and Singapore has a very different culture," Veitch said. "Their training regimen is really intense over there, so that definitely was a big thing I was looking for. International players in general have good fundamentals with their bowling and they're very good academically too, so coming here and being at Tulane is a very good fit for them."

Hackett certainly fits the description of an international student with a focus on academics and bowling. Tulane's prestigious academics, a tight-knit bowling team and the welcoming culture have been essential elements of her success in New Orleans.

"I came here because I thought it was a good opportunity to focus on my studies and my bowling at a high level," Hackett said. "The team is a great support system where you can talk to them about anything. We're all here for the same thing: to study and bowl."

None of the American members of the bowling team come from Louisiana, so the international bowlers can fit in by sharing that sense of displacement from home.

"We sometimes joke around that we're the three international minorities, but I feel like we all have a special bond with one another regardless of where we came from," Ng said.

The international bowlers credit much of their success to the support provided by the program. Lee said her teammates are always there to help and support each other through struggles and celebrate accomplishments.

"For a normal student, you have to build all these friendships and support systems on your own, which may be a struggle because the people you see in class that sit next to you change every day," Lee said. "But with the team there for me, I know that even if I don't have friends in class, I have this group of people I can count on and rely on for all my problems."

They also understand that they have a valuable mentor in Veitch, who shared many of the same experiences as an international student-athlete. She bowled at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee, before finishing her career at Webber International in Florida.

"Especially with international students, you have to just adapt to the culture," Veitch said. "With bowling, right from the moment you arrive, you're in season. It helps that there's no time to really think about things."

Lee also credits her countrywoman, Ng, for being a mentor and friend, making her feel at home in an unfamiliar environment.

With the Chinese New Year – celebrated in Singapore – in February, Ng and Lee do not get to go home to celebrate with family. So they get together, cook and celebrate to bring a little bit of Singapore to Uptown New Orleans. Those bonds help grow camaraderie on the team but also create a friendship that will last a lifetime.

The Green Wave return to action Feb. 16-18 at the SFA Jacks Invitational in Houston.

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On the Wave: Bowling Trio Brings International Presence to the Green Wave

Players Mentioned

Joanna Hackett

Isabelle Lee

Michelle Ng

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Tulane University Athletics