INDIANAPOLIS - Marian University head men's and women's bowling coach Chad Hardin is proud to announce the commitments of the first two bowlers in Marian University history.

Brad Caron, a right-handed bowler from Carmel, Ind., is the first male bowler to commit to Marian University, which announced the inception of the program in June. Caron will graduate from Carmel High School in the spring before attending Marian University next fall.

Caron is a four-year member of the Carmel High School bowling team and is a three-time team captain. He earned the 2008-09 individual sectional championship as well as the 2008-09 individual conference title. He is an individual and semi-state qualifier who led his team to a 2007-08 sectional championship and regional qualification. He also earned Indiana High School All-Star second team honors as a sophomore in 2007-08. He has a certified career-high game of 299, a certified career-high average of 212, a certified career-high two-game series of 514, and a certified career-high three-game series of 734.

"Brad, like Marian University, is making history," said head coach Chad Hardin. "He is the first men's player to sign with our program and is a highly-competitive person with a strong desire to win. He is a strong team player who thrives in pressure situations, and we believe he will be a very good collegiate bowler."

Elizabeth Bischoff, a right-handed bowler from Huntington, Ind., is the first female bowler to commit to Marian University and will graduate from Huntington North High School in the spring before attending Marian University next fall.

Bischoff is a four-year member of the Huntington North High School bowling team who was the anchor bowler that led her team to two appearances in the Indiana state finals including a runner-up finish in 2008-09. She was the 2008-09 individual sectional champion who qualified for the regionals and semi-states. She was part of a team that was ranked in each of her four years and garnered three conference championships. She was a 2009 Indiana Queens Finalist and recently qualified for the 2010 USBC National Junior Gold Championships to take place this coming summer. She was a past TKO Points and Tournament champion and was selected as an Indiana State Pepsi scholarship and Indiana State Coca-Cola scholarship winner. In addition, Bischoff was selected to the Indiana State USBC Youth Leaders Board this past summer. She has a certified career-high game of 278 and a certified career-high three-game series of 725.

"I am excited that Elizabeth is the first bowler to commit to our women's program," said Hardin. "She comes from a strong high school program and is a proven winner. She has a dedicated work ethic and a great attitude. She has a bright future ahead of her and will be a very good bowler for us."

The Knights begin competition in intercollegiate bowling next fall with tournaments scattered throughout the Midwest. For information on the Marian University bowling program, please contact Chad Hardin at chardin@marian.edu.