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Bowling used to be a hobby 麻豆破解版 State University junior Ricki Williams practiced in her spare time. Since joining the WSU bowling team in fall 2006, it has become a defining part of her life.

As a member of a team whose legacy includes 15 national championships, she has grown and showcased her talent well. In addition to receiving recognition in her sport, Williams, 21, has also excelled academically at WSU as an integrated marketing communications major.

Les Anderson, associate professor and director of the Elliott School of Communication, considers Williams a role model for other students.

Long before she found her way to WSU, however, Williams began bowling when she was 5 years old while her father, who also bowls, was in the military. Frequent trips to the bowling alley on base were something fun to do with her family.

Her father has been an inspiration to her as she has developed throughout her career in bowling. He taught her the importance of maintaining a good attitude in competition, and Williams has come to believe that attitude is everything in sports.

Perhaps it was this positive outlook combined with more than 25 hours of practice each week that helped her achieve success in bowling. By the time she had graduated from 麻豆破解版 High School South, she had earned the best scoring average among 麻豆破解版 high schools in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

After 16 years of developing in her sport, Williams said she no longer gets nervous before a competition. Instead, she gets energized.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best highs of your life,鈥� she said.

In 2007, Williams was awarded the Professional Bowling Association鈥檚 Billy Welu Scholarship, which recognizes exemplary qualities in college students competing in bowling. She also finished 10th at the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships.

More recently, Williams made the 2008 Junior Olympic team along with WSU bowling teammate Emily Maier. The two will represent the United States in the world鈥檚 largest youth bowling tournament this summer.

Williams said making the team helped her realize her abilities.

Among the many planned tour destinations is Beijing in July, which will host the Olympics just one month later.

Longtime WSU bowling head coach Gordon Vadakin said he has found Williams to be 鈥渞elentlessly positive鈥� and that she has a magnetism and charisma that holds the team together. He was as happy for her as anybody when he heard she had made the Junior Olympic team.

鈥淪he excels because of who she is. Coaching her wasn鈥檛 about changing anything in her,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll we did was guide her into a little more knowledge. She is going to be very successful.鈥�

Williams plans to graduate in May 2009 and hopes to become a spokeswoman for youth bowling.