Murdock finds what she wants with Shawnee State

Sarah Murdock went from looking for something to do in the winter months to looking for somewhere to bowl at the college level.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers senior bowler has experienced a whirlwind path in bowling from never participating in the sport to deciding where she would bowl at the next level.

And that decision has ended with Murdock signing a letter-of-intent with the Shawnee State University Bears.

Murdock was looking at several schools but had zeroed in on Indiana Wesleyan, Grace College of Indiana and Shawnee State before making her final decision.

“I also had offers for track, but I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go to Shawnee,” said Murdock.

Signing to bowl in college wasn’t even on Murdock’s radar four years ago. Murdock didn’t begin bowling until her freshman year of high school.

But she said that with the help of coaches Steve Cartmel and Kirby Allen along with her parents and teammates, it made her adjustment to the game much easier.

“I did not know what I was doing my freshman year. My coaches built me up,” said Murdock with a chuckle.

Although she has participated in track since middle school, that sport has been supplanted by bowling.

“I think the main thing was the team and the environment, the coaches and the parents were very welcoming,” said Murdock. “I just stuck with it and wanted to continue with it through college.”

Murdock is currently in real estate school and looks to join her father, Shawn, with Murdock Realty upon graduation. She plans to major in nursing at Shawnee State.

Ironton won the Ohio Valley Conference bowing title last year. She said bowling is now entrenched in her blood and she wants to continue the sport even after college.

“Definitely yes,” she said about her future with bowling. “I’m trying to get my family to start a league with me. My mom and dad bowl in leagues. It’s very competitive at our house.”

If Murdock was apprehensive when she began bowling as a freshman, she said it will be an ever bigger adjustment at the next level.

“I’m kind of scared, but I’m intrigued on how it will take me. I’m just happy to have coaches who are investing in me,” said Murdock. “I love (Shawnee coach) Brian Sturgill. I had no idea what I was doing when I was signing and he walked me through it.”

Murdock becomes the first Ironton female bowler to sign to play at the college level. She never dreamed she could bowl at the college level when she began, but she hopes what she’s accomplished will be an inspiration for future female bowlers.

“No other girl (from Ironton) has ever signed. I never really thought that a girl could sign for bowling. I didn’t think it was as big as football like I can get scholarships or basketball,” said Murdock.

“The fact that I can show the underclassmen that I can actually get some money for this is really nice.”

And all this from just looking around.