For the third time in five years, Barton will undertake starting a new athletic program from scratch.
This time, though, Cougar Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs didn’t have to look far to find the right person to start the newest venture – bowling.
Great Bend High bowling coach Mike Perry was chosen to take on the task of starting the bowling program at Barton after successfully doing likewise for the Panthers.
The bowling team will begin competition next season and will be just one of two schools in the Jayhawk Conference to offer the sport on a competitive level.
“Certainly Mike is someone who crosses your mind right away with getting the bowling program off the ground,” Rolfs said. “When we added the program I thought of him and we had some conversations where he showed significant interest and one thing led to another and here we are.”
Perry started the Great Bend program in 2008 with great success, including state titles for the Panthers.
“It’s funny,” Perry said. “When I started in education I just wanted to be a teacher. I got into the field to do just that, teach. Coaching spots just kind of fall into your lap here and there.
“Then when the bowling program started here at the high school, that is something I was interested in. Since that time I have enjoyed it so much. It has really opened doors for me.”
That led Perry to the Barton job when it was announced the school would start the bowling program.
“When this opportunity presented itself I felt like it was a challenge I was ready for. I didn’t get into teaching to be a coach but that is the direction things went and I am really excited about the challenge in front of me.”
He will continued to coach the Panthers through the end of this season as well as start his duties at Barton in January.
Barton will join Cowley as the only other Jayhawk school with the program. Nationally, there are 35 teams this year competing for both the men and women at the NJCAA level. Cowley is in its inaugural season with the sport.
The men’s and women’s programs will each have 12 scholarship bowlers on the team as well as taking walk-on student athletes.
“I think recruiting is something I will enjoy,” Perry said. “I like to talk. I like people. I am familiar with the state as far as bowling and that will be the focus for recruiting to get this thing going. For me, I think that is going to be one of the most enjoyable parts initially.”
As far as scheduling, that may be the biggest challenge for Perry.
“I really think that is going to be the most challenging part,” Perry said. “Putting the schedule together and coordinating all the travel. There just aren’t a lot of teams at the NJCAA level in this area. We will have to compete in events with NCAA division I and division II schools.”
Perry has some people to lean on for advice if needed.
For one, there is Jim Mayberry, who runs Walnut Bowl where the Cougars will practice and compete and helps Perry with the high school team.
Not only is Mayberry himself a great source of information, he also knows Wichita State bowling coach Gordan Vadakin. The Shockers are among the nation’s elite at the NCAA DI level.
Perry knows Newman University bowling coach Billy Murphy. The Jets are among the elite at the NCAA DII level. He is also friends with Ottawa University coach Geoff Poston. Poston coached at fellow 5A school Topeka Seaman from 2009-17.
“They will be great sources for helping get things started,” Perry said. “I know if I need some help, I can call on them for some advice. It’s going to be an eye-opening experience I’m sure.”
For now, Perry will concentrate on his duties for USD 428 and coaching the Panthers bowling teams this year. In his spare time, he will work on laying the groundwork for next season with the Cougars.
“We hit a home run with Coach (Mike) Bammes to start the wrestling program four years ago,” Rolfs said. “We hit another home run with Coach (Jonathan) Reeder for the swimming program a couple of years ago.
“I think we did the same here. Maybe even hit a grand slam with Coach Perry.”
