Elmhurst University has named Torrie Bartalone the head coach of the Bluejays' women's bowling team. A former All-American bowler at Valparaiso University, Bartalone comes to Elmhurst after serving as the Director of Bowling at Lincoln Memorial University.
"It was very clear from the moment we interviewed Torrie that she was going to be a great fit for our athletic department and institution," said Elmhurst Director of Athletics Glen Brittich. "Her commitment to student-athlete development and the integration with campus was evident and we are extremely excited about the culture she will bring to our bowling team."
Bartalone spent the past two seasons directing the men's and women's bowling teams at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. Last season, she led the Railsplitter squads to the inaugural Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Men's and Women's Bowling Championship. She earned Coach of the Year honors for both the men's and women's team while also coaching the conference's Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year for both squads. On the women's side, her players garnered 11 all-tournament honors over the course of the season while earning a top-25 national ranking. She coached four all-tournament honorees and one honorable mention All-American for the men's program.
In 2021, Bartalone led Lincoln Memorial's women's program to a No. 18 final season ranking. Included in the Railsplitters' 40 victories that seasons were 11 wins against programs ranked in the top-10. She was named the East Coast Conference Coach of the Year while her bowlers swept the Bowler of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards and qualified for USBC Nationals. She also coached a first-team All-American and individual qualifier for the USBC Nationals as coach of the men's team in 2021.
"Since my initial conversations with Glen Brittich I felt Elmhurst is where I want to be," said Bartalone. "Between the competitive drive and equal opportunities for all athletes it is rare to see an institution and athletic department striving for excellence in a wholesome environment. I'm grateful to be part of this team. I have watched this bowling program as an athlete start and seen its moments where the young ladies have the tools and support it's just about providing them the confidence to win."
Bartalone began her head coaching career in 2018 at Lourdes University in Ohio. The first bowling coach in Lourdes history, Bartalone was tasked with building the men's and women's bowling programs from the ground up. In just two seasons, she led Lourdes' women's team to a top-10 national ranking and a place in the NAIA National Championship. She coached three all-conference performers and one All-American on the women's side.
Prior to taking over at Lourdes, Bartalone spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Robert Morris University in Chicago. She began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Calumet College of St. Joseph in 2015, spending three seasons with the Crimson Wave.
Bartalone is a USBC silver certified coach and is currently in the process of obtaining her USBC gold certification, which is the highest level of certification a coach can achieve. She is also currently serving as the president of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) and has formerly served as the NTCA Secretary for the National NCAA Coaches' Committee.
Bartalone was named an NTCA honorable mention All-American in 2015 after averaging a 198.9 during her senior season at Valparaiso. Her 198.9 average ranks as the third-highest scoring average in single-season history. She finished her career as a three-time letterwinner and owner of a 191.6 career average for the Crusaders.
Bartalone is wasting no time in setting both short-term and long-term goals for the Bluejays.
"A short-term goal for the program is to set the school record for wins in a season and put ourselves in a position to win our conference. I also want to have multiple individuals earning all-tournament, all-conference and All-America accolades in the next few seasons. We will also strive for academic excellence and continue to do better than the year before. Longer term, I want to see this program make it out of regionals and make the Final Four at nationals while striving for a top-five Division III and top-20 overall national ranking. At the end of the day I want to push Elmhurst to become one of the most highly respected DIII Women's Bowling program with successful student athletes on the lanes, in the classroom and in our communities."
Bartalone earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Valparaiso in 2015. Bartalone is a 2015 graduate of Valparaiso, earning her Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She also holds an Associate of Health Sciences degree from Robert Morris University (Ill.).
Bartalone and her husband, Dan are parents to sons Daniel Jr. and Jay.
The Bluejays are charter members of the CCIW and compete at the NCAA Division III level.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up