DALLAS/DAYTON – The Wright State bowling program is one of three new affiliate members joining Conference USA ahead of the 2025-26 season, the conference announced on Monday. The Raiders, a Top 25-ranked team a season ago, join a conference for the first time in the program's history.
 
The addition of Wright State, Nebraska and Sacred Heart increases CUSA membership to 12 schools for the 2025-26 season, joining Arkansas State, Jacksonville State, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston, Tulane, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt, Wichita State and Youngstown State as members of CUSA.
 
"We are proud to announce that Wright State Bowling is officially joining Conference USA," Director of Athletics Joylynn Brown said. "Joining CUSA is a major milestone for our bowling program. This move reflects our commitment to providing student-athletes with meaningful opportunities to grow, compete, and succeed at the highest level. I am proud of how far our program has come in three years and look forward to their continued success in this next chapter."
 
"Joining Conference USA is the culmination of three years of hard work and perseverance by our bowlers, coaches and staff," head coach Jeff Fleck said. "Wright State Bowling is looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of competing in such a prestigious conference."
 
Wright State Bowling has jumped onto the scene in three short years as an NCAA program, finishing the 2024-25 campaign ranked 21st in the National Tenpin Coaches Association's end of the season poll with a final RPI ranking of No. 22. In the classroom, Wright State earned 2025 NTCA All-Academic Scholar Team honors, while nine individuals were named NTCA All-Academic Scholar Athletes for 2024-2025. This past season the Raiders won the Mercyhurst Invitational and finished second at the Columbia 300 Saints Invite while Mia Sayles rolled the first 300 game in program history in February. Wright State joined the NCAA ranks after more than a decade as a national powerhouse at the club level.
 
"This is a perfect step forward for our bowling program, providing our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete at the highest level against strong and respected programs while showcasing the hard work and talent of our student-athletes" Senior Associate Athletic Director Robert Ray added. "We look forward to the new relationships, challenges and successes that lie ahead."
 
Conference USA was represented with three of the four finalists at this year's 2025 NCAA Championship Tournament (Jacksonville State, Wichita State, Youngstown State), with Youngstown State winning the national championship. CUSA claimed all four spots in the 2024 NCAA Championship Tournament as well, with Jacksonville State winning that title.