Hall of Fame
The 1962 bowling team captured the only team national championship in school history when it won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national title with a 12-game total of 10,982 pins. The score out-distanced Central Oklahoma by 59 pins.
Coached by Al Kendziora (’62), Gannon was the best out of 460 NAIA teams at the time. The roster included Joe Calamita (’62), Dick Dowling (’63), Norm Gaylord (’64), Tom Kujawinski (’62), Bob Nieratko and Rich Sambuchino. The Golden Knights were in third place after one round, second place after two rounds and held down the No. 2 spot after three rounds. The squad then scored a record 1,017-pin game at the start of the final round to forge ahead. A 2,788-pin set pushed them ahead of St. Joseph’s (Ind.), who led the first three rounds. Kujawinski had a 248 while Calamita bowled a 228 during the opening 1,017-pin game.
