Two East Coast Tier I events, the Roto Grip Keystone Quaker Collegiate Classic and the Lehigh Valley Collegiate Classic, were contested last week in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to end the first half of the 2016-2017 United States Bowling Congress Collegiate season.

The Roto Grip Keystone Quaker Collegiate Classic, which was held Dec. 27-28 at Haja Rose Bowl, saw the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men and the Pikeville women earn titles, while the Lehigh Valley Collegiate Classic, held Dec. 29-30 at AMF Parkway Bowling Lanes (men) and Jordan Lanes (women) saw the Robert Morris-Illinois men and Pikeville women claim victories. 

Both the Keystone Classic and Lehigh Valley Classic featured five traditional games and 20 Baker games with total pinfall determining the champions in each division.

Roto Grip Keystone Quaker Collegiate Classic
On the men’s side, the battle between the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Robert Morris-Illinois came down to the final frames, but UW-Whitewater emerged victorious with a total pinfall of 9,201. Robert Morris-Illinois finished second with 9,162, and Morehead State grabbed third place with 8,999.

Savannah Art and Design’s Benjamin Martinez captured the men’s individual title with a five-game total of 1,147, a 229.4 average, just ahead of Notre Dame College’s Vinny Bellar, who finished with 1,141. Robert Morris-Illinois’ Bryon Bourget was third with 1,116, and a pair of UW-Whitewater teammates, Chris Wiley (1,105) and Zach Woelfel (1,087), finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

On the women’s side, Pikeville sat in fourth position after five traditional team games but made a run to the top with a 4,001 Baker set, bringing its pinfall total to 8,604. The Bears’ Baker set was the highest by any women’s team, and the fourth highest Baker total overall, including the men’s field. Schenectady Community College was second with 8,452 and Robert Morris-Illinois finished third with 8,417.

Pikeville’s Jenna Coldiron outdistanced Muskingum’s Emily Shorts for the top individual spot. Coldiron rolled 1,064 for five games, a 212.8 average, while Shorts posted a 1,044 total. Robert Morris-Illinois teammates, Britney Brown (1,028) and Stephanie Cieslewicz (1,016), finished third and fourth, while Schenectady Community College’s Morgan Ruggeri rounded out the top five with 1,006.

Lehigh Valley Classic
The Pikeville women made up a 171-pin deficit on Day 2 to win their second Tier I event of the week with a 8,575 total. The Lady Bears again used the highest Baker total of the day (3,866) to finish 35 pins ahead of Campbellsville University (8,540). Notre Dame College claimed third place with an 8,382 total.

Individually, Notre Dame College’s Brittany Ferrara took home top honors with a 1,070 total, a 214 average. Crystal Land was the runner-up with a 1,021 total. Muskingum’s Brandie Jo Tinlin (1,004), Notre Dame College’s Taylor Sturm (1,004) and Savannah Art and Design’s Veronica Cepeda (1,000) also recorded top-five finishes.

After finishing second two days earlier at the Keystone Classic, the Robert Morris-Illinois men ended the year with a Tier I victory after using a 4,123 20-game Baker total for a 9,126 total, 73 pins ahead of Morehead State (9,053). Purdue finished third with 9,031.

Purdue’s Zach Weidman claimed the top spot in the men’s individual standings with 1,177, a 235.4 total. William Paterson’s Andrew Dekowski finished with 1,107, while Morehead State’s Mark Curtis (1,099), UW-Whitewater’s David Eggert (1,078) and Campbellsville’s Ryan Bremar (1.065) finished in the top five.

For complete results, click here.