To many students, bowling is just an easy gym credit or a last resort on a Friday night. In fact, many students do not even realize Penn State has a bowling team.

But Penn State has both a men and a women's bowling team, which are nationally ranked by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association. The women's team is ranked third, and the men are 10th.

"The women have a very legitimate chance of being national champions," said Vance McCullough, director of club sports. "They are probably as good, or even better than the No. 1 team, West Texas State."

The Lady Lion Bowlers, led by All-American senior Jackie Sellers, finished second in the Eastern Pennsylvania / Maryland Conference with a 12-2 record. The team also competed in several tournaments and, along with the men, obtained a bid here in October at the Lion's Pride tournament to compete in sectionals.

The top two teams from sectionals, scheduled for March 10 in Binghamton, N.Y., will be invited to compete in the national tournament in Las Vegas beginning April 19. Only 12 men's and 12 women's teams will make it to nationals.

The men's team, although undefeated in the conference, is in the same section with two higher-ranked teams, William Paterson and Saginaw Valley State. But they squad still thinks a trip to Las Vegas is possible.

"I think our chances are very good," freshman Jay Stanton said. "We've beaten the two higher-ranked teams in tournaments, and everything seems to be coming together."

"We've worked up a lot of confidence; we're really feeling good," junior co-captain Dan Balta said. "If we do well in the tournament the week before sectionals, we're going to be flying high."

The Lady Lions, the highest-ranked team in the section, are favored on the women's side of the tournament. The four seniors on the team have been to the national tournament all three years. In the last three years, the women have finished eighth, third and fourth, respectively.

"Last year we were ranked No. 1 going into nationals and finished fourth," Sellers said. "This year we struggled the first half of the year, but now we're getting more consistent."

The two teams have gained recognition and respect all over the nation. Sellers was named as the Most Valuable Player in the NCBCA the past two years. Junior Sheila Allen, along with Sellers, was named a first team All-American last season, and co-captain Laura Wolfgang received honorable mention.

Three members of the men's squad were named to the Academic All-America team last year. Only two, Balta and senior co-captain Jim Schuetz, returned this season. But the teams still think things could be better.

"It would help our team if more people just even knew about us," Balta said. "We're probably missing out on some good bowlers because of that reason."

Since they are clubs, the teams have to rely on tournament prizes, outside donations and fund raisers to help pay for practice facilities and travel expenses. One item the teams have not been able to support is a coach.

"I think we've done exceptionally well considering we have no coach," said Wolfgang, a third team All-American as a sophomore. "But a coach would have been nice to have as someone to take our frustrations out on instead of teammates."

Balta said now that the men and women's teams are two separate clubs, the men will not be able to receive any money the women's team wins. Sellers won a scholarship of $1,500 for being named Bowler of the Year which was split evenly between the two teams the past two years.