Photo by Bruna Pacheco
For more than 30 years, Geoff Poston has been bowling. Poston has been involved as, not only a competitor in leagues, tournaments and professionally, but as a coach as well. He’s been instructing athletes for more than 15 years.
“I started out about 20 years ago giving individual lessons and it grew from there,” Poston says. “I love the interaction with the kids. At the college level, it’s a whole new level, being able to be a second parent. I love the competition, the work you put in on and off the lanes to get ready for an event. A lot goes into it.”
Prior to coaching at Ottawa University, Poston coached at Topeka West High School and Topeka Seaman High School. For five years, Poston was president of the Kansas Bowling Coaches Association.
“There were nominations and then a vote; I started as VP and did that for two years before moving up to president for two years,” Poston says. “The Coaches Association tried to do things to help high school bowling. We added Baker-style bowling to the state tournament and dealt with issues and suggested any rule changes to KSHSAA.”
In July 2018, Poston learned he would be inducted into the Kaw Valley USBC Hall of Fame in Topeka. On August 5, 2018, his induction became official.
“I was surprised and humbled at the same time,” he says. “There are a lot of people that I have some true respect for, that I have bowled with and against, who are in that Hall of Fame. It was never something I set out to have happen or even thought of as a goal.”
Poston said his induction was “truly an honor.” In early October, Poston would receive another honor in his life because of bowling.
“I will be inducted into the Kansas State USBC Hall of Fame,” says Poston, who will go in during a ceremony in May held in Topeka. “I am blessed to be able to do what I do for a living.”
Less than a year apart, Poston was notified he would be put into two different Hall of Fames.
“That’s the ‘big one,’” he says. “Again, totally surprised and not something that I ever set as a goal to have happen. It’s a true honor and something I am extremely grateful for.”
Poston became Ottawa University’s head bowling coach in 2017. He recruited 11 men and 9 women. For the 2018-19 season, Poston added nine men and seven women to his roster. While losing a few players from one season to the next, Poston has a total of 31 men and women this season.
“I want good student athletes. Young men and women who are going to put an emphasis on academics and will work hard on the lanes,” Poston says. “We have made a mark on the college bowling scene, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon."
For the 2019-20 season, Poston has two more men, one from Florida, the other from Ohio, and two more women, one from Arkansas and the other from Canada, committed to join the team.