Bowling – and Division III, for that matter – was not Lorrie Decker’s first choice. Or her second choice. Or her third choice. But sometimes the universe has a way of making decisions for us.
 
Lorrie, now a senior at Elmhurst University, grew up in Van Wert, Ohio, and was never short on activities. She was involved in several sports and participated in a variety of extracurriculars, but bowling wasn’t her thing.
 
“I actually stopped bowling to focus on cheer and gymnastics for about five or six years,” she said. “I didn’t like bowling. I didn’t want anything to do with it.”
 
Lorrie grew up in a supportive, tight-knit family, and her older sister, Torrie, was a Division I collegiate bowler. One day, while watching her sister in a tournament, Lorrie’s future changed.
 
“I told my dad I wanted to start bowling again,” she said. “I came back (and) called my band director, and told him I wasn’t going to make band camp because I chose to go and compete in bowling instead.”
 
But Lorrie’s start wasn’t in Division III. Her newfound love for bowling eventually took her to a Division II school, where she competed during her freshman year. The experience wasn’t what Lorrie had hoped for.
 
“It just wasn’t the place I needed to be,” she said. “I didn’t appreciate the team aspect, and I didn’t feel appreciated in certain ways, and vice versa.”
 
Lorrie entered the transfer portal. She had a few options to choose from, but she wasn’t quite ready to give up her dream of becoming a national champion.
 
“I wanted to become a national champion for a school that appreciates me,” she said. “Once I got to campus at Elmhurst, I felt like it was a home away from home. It’s a tight and close-knit community.”
 
As Lorrie began to learn more about the CCIW and the Division III experience, she became more and more intrigued.
 
“I was a person sitting in front of my coaches at Elmhurst, (Director of Athletics) Glen (Brittich) and (Senior Woman Administrator) Shawna (Armstrong),” she said. “They saw me as an athlete, as a student first, not just a number or another athlete on the team.”
 
Lorrie’s transition to Elmhurst wasn’t without its challenges, but her teammates immediately embraced her, and she found a sense of belonging.
 
“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she said. “These past two years have been nothing but grateful, loving, kind, and supportive.”
 
Decker is now a three-time All-CCIW selection in women's bowling, including First Team honors in 2024 and 2025. Last month, she finished second out of 216 student-athletes at the Intercollegiate Singles Championship qualifiers in Addison, Ill. to become the just the second CCIW student-athlete to earn a spot at the ISC national championships, where she will compete in Las Vegas on April 14-16.

Beyond athletics, Lorrie has also had the opportunity to grow academically. She’s been able to explore her interests and pursue internships that align with her career aspirations.
 
“Elmhurst has really pushed me towards what I want to do,” she said. “I can’t see my life without athletics and without college somewhere in it. I want to be able to represent young student-athletes and help them feel seen and appreciated. Division III is where you’re going to get the most out of your collegiate experience and where you’re going to matter to people,” she said. “You’re going to matter to faculty, teammates, coaches, peers, and the community.”
 
For Lorrie, her journey from Ohio to Division II to Elmhurst has been about discovering who she is as a person and an athlete. She’s learned the importance of being appreciated, making an impact, and finding a place where she truly belongs.
 
“I’m thankful that Division III lives up to what they stand for,” she said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”