Notre Dame College alumnus and professional bowler Chris Via has been nominated for an ESPY Award.
The 2021 U.S. Open Bowling Champion, Via is one of four vying for the Best Bowler ESPY Award. Online fan voting is open until 8 p.m. on Friday, July 9. The winners will be announced and televised on Saturday, July 10, at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
Via graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in accounting in 2014. He was active on the Falcons bowling team from 2011 to 2014, earning three straight First Team All American honors. As a senior, Via took third place at the national tournament and qualified for the TV finals.
He also served as a bowling coach at Notre Dame for a year.
“We are so proud of Chris’ accomplishments and the spotlight he has given professional bowling in the Cleveland and Columbus area. Notre Dame has incredibly talented men and women’s bowling teams and Chris has been an inspiration to them all as far as possibilities for them after college,” said Scott Swain, director of athletics at Notre Dame.
Via, who is originally from Springfield, Ohio, is the co-owner of TV Bowling Supply with PBA member Michael Tang in Columbus, Ohio.
He joined the Professional Bowler Association, or PBA, in 2017 and has won a regional title in addition to the U.S. Open bowling major. Via also earned a PBA regional title as a nonmember in 2014.
His accolades include competing as a member of Team USA from 2016 though 2018. He won the World Championships Team Gold Medal in 2017.
Via was the U.S. Amateur Champion in 2016, a member of the Junior Team USA in 2011 and 2012 and won the World Youth Championships Team Gold Medal in 2012.
Vote for Via online at https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/31631484/espys-2021-vote-best-bowler.
An ESPY, or Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award, is an honor presented by ABC, previously by the sports channel ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievement.
June 2021
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the college offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.