Totino-Grace Students Design First-of-Its-Kind Bowling Aid for Wheelchair Athletes, Earn National Recognition

For a quadriplegic athlete bowling with a specialized wheelchair ramp, controlling the spin of a ball has never been very possible. Until now.

Totino-Grace seniors Alvin Nguyen and William "Billy" Walsh spent the better part of this school year designing and building a device that changes that. Their invention allows a quadriplegic bowler to rotate a bowling ball before sending it down their specialized ramp, giving the athlete direct control over the hook of the ball as it rolls down the lane. According to the American Wheelchair Bowling Association, it is a device that has never existed before.

On May 16th, Alvin and Billy were invited to present their work at the AWBA national championship in Romeoville, Illinois, where they could share their device with the community it was designed for.

The project started in September when Alvin and Billy reached out to the AWBA for guidance. Secretary Frank Goebel connected them with two athletes who bowl using a specialized ramp called the IKAN Bowler, which attaches to a powered wheelchair. Treasurer Curtis Wolff provided technical specifications for the ramp, while member Kyle Kennon offered ongoing feedback throughout the design process. Alvin and Billy's device gave them something new: the ability to fine-tune the ball's position in the ramp's cradle and influence its path down the lane.

Attending the championship gave the students something no classroom could. They watched competitors bowl under pressure and saw Kennon himself convert a difficult split in a semifinal match, the kind of moment that makes the purpose of an engineering project concrete.

"Our project was a device that allows a quadriplegic bowler to rotate a bowling ball before sending it down their specialized ramp," the students said. "This device has never been created before and was received very warmly by the disabled wheelchair bowling community for its innovation towards accessibility."

Following the championship, Alvin and Billy attended the end-of-season banquet, where the AWBA presented them with a special award for their contribution to the disabled bowling community. Secretary Goebel noted the association was "amazed by the details of their physical project, the time and effort leading thereto, and their undying enthusiasm."

"We would like to thank the American Wheelchair Bowling Association and Totino-Grace's Engineering department for making this opportunity possible for us," the students said. "We hope this experience motivates other engineering students to look outside of their comfort zones and interact with the community around them."

Totino-Grace congratulates Alvin and Billy on this well-deserved recognition. Their project is a reminder that the best engineering does more than create a device. It listens first, understands a real need, and uses creativity to help others do what they love.

To learn more about the American Wheelchair Bowling Association, visit awba.org.