NORWICH – Very seldom does a native from our humble upstate county succeed to the far reaches of national recognition but as fate would have it, one man from Norwich managed to put his expertise and passion for sport to task to do just that.

Recently, The Sam Houston State University Bearkats won the 2014 NCAA Women’s Bowling National Championship, defeating defending champion Nebraska in six games.

The title win is the first in any sport for the Bearkats in the 28 years since the team moved to Division I in 1986. Couple that with the fact that the women's bowling team win is its first title in just its fourth year of existence, let alone Sam Houston’s first NCAA title in any sport, and the perplexity begins to take hold.

Leading the lady 'Kats to national victory is the local denominator, said Brad Hagen.

Hagen, a Norwich High class of 2001 graduate, acceded early on at the varsity levels in both golf and bowling.

Under the direction of bowling coach John McCumsky and Golf coach Bob Branham, Hagen heeded countless lessons both during and after gameplay that would hew his coaching character and success.