Oliphant sisters roll on as collegiate bowlers

(Story by Trevor Sherman)

ReighAnn and Jacqueline Oliphant helped to blaze a trail for high school bowling in Whitley County. As members of the very first Colonel bowling team, they represented their school at the regional and state levels before moving on to compete in the college ranks.

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LET’S ROLL: The sibling duo of Jacqueline and ReighAnn Oliphant were fierce competitors on the bowling lanes during their time at Whitley County High School. ReighAnn (right) went on the continue her bowling career at the University of the Cumberlands while Jacqueline (left) is currently bowling at Lindsey Wilson College.

ReighAnn, who also served as a student athletic trainer during her time at WCHS, stayed close to home, signing to bowl with the University of the Cumberlands in 2017. Jacqueline, who also excelled as a Lady Colonel soccer player, went on to bowl for Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia two years later, in 2019.

ReighAnn recently completed her studies at UC, graduating in December of 2021. She now lives in Washington state, and continues to bowl competitively. By working with the Off Broadway Bowling Academy, she says that she is bettering herself both mentally and physically on the lanes.

Consistently improving during her time as a Patriot, the older Oliphant sister said of her time at Cumberlands, “It was the experience of a lifetime. It helped me to make new friends, while also getting to compete in the sport that I love.”

“Being a student-athlete can be challenging, especially as you make the transition from high school to college,” ReighAnn added. “But getting to compete and get an education at the next level is amazing.”

Jacqueline Oliphant echoed the sentiment of her older sister, saying bowling at the collegiate level has granted her the opportunity to “expand and grow” her talents while also allowing her to be a part of an amazing team that she says is more like a big family.

The younger Oliphant said that she wishes to just enjoy the remainder of her college bowling days as much as possible, and after graduating she plans on working to obtain an MBA.

Offering some words of advice to current high schoolers, Jacqueline said, “If you are curious about a sport, club, or any type of extracurricular activity, you should give it a try. Talk to colleges about continuing to stay involved in your chosen activities at the next level. The opportunities are there if you’re willing to work hard.”

For more information on the University of the Cumberlands women’s bowling team, as well as all other Patriot Athletics, visit them online at www.cumberlandspatriots.com. For more on the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, visit www.lindseyathletics.com.