Collegiate Ticker - Nov. 4, 2026
November 04, 2026
The top spots at the Big Ole Open were swept by Coe College over the weekend in Alexandria, Minnesota, as the Kohawks collected bracket wins in the men’s and women’s divisions.
The 2026 event featured 12 varsity teams in the men’s division and 11 varsity squads in the women’s field. The format included five traditional games and 12 Baker games to determine the top four teams for the bracket.
Each bracket round was contested in a best-of-three Baker format.
In qualifying, Coe cruised to the top seed in the men’s division. They finished with a 7,221 total, more than 310 pins ahead of Iowa Central CC (6,902). Viterbo placed third with 6,867, and Briar Cliff earned the final spot in the bracket with 6,845.
The Kohawks defeated Briar Cliff in the opening round, 2-1, to earn their spot in the title match against Iowa Central. The Tritons advanced with a 2-1 win over Viterbo.
Coe swept Iowa Central in the championship round, posting wins of 190-159 and 219-190 to record the victory.
In the men’s individual standings, Iowa Central’s Nicholas Rajkovic and Samuel Katzenberger paced the field. Rajkovic led the way with a 1,143 total for five games (228.6 average), and Katzenberger was second with 1,090. Briar Cliff’s Christian Davis finished third with 1,052, while Coe’s Lucas Dolphin and Wartburg’s Ryland Prokopec tied for fourth with 1,028.
A strong Baker set helped Coe ascend to the top qualifying position in the women’s division with a 6,538 total. Iowa Central (6,329) and Viterbo (5,980) followed in the standings, and Waldorf edged College of Saint Mary by two pins for fourth with 5,903.
The first round of bracket action included a 2-0 win by the Kohawks over Waldorf, while Iowa Central put together a 2-1 victory over Viterbo to advance to the finals.
The women’s championship round finished the same as the men’s title tilt. Coe delivered a 2-0 sweep (204-180 and 195-152) to take home the win.
Iowa Central’s Macy Smedley posted the top five-game score in the women’s division, finishing with a 939 total (187.8 average). Three of the next four spots went to student-athletes from Coe. Jenna Rieder (916), Morgan Corley (894) and Kaylee Harris (853) placed second, third and fifth, respectively. Waldorf’s Angel Schuyler was fourth with 871.
In other collegiate action:
- The Boilermaker Classic in Lafayette, Indiana, was contested as a single-day event Saturday and featured five traditional games. The Huntington women and Marian-Indiana men earned the top spots.
- The Boilermaker Shootout followed Sunday in Lafayette and featured 25 Baker games. The Trine men and women emerged victorious. On the women’s side, Trine claimed the win by just three pins over Huntington.
- At the Destination Florida event in Orlando, Florida, the Jacksonville State women defeated Nebraska in the championship match, 4-2.
- At the VUU Invitational in Midlothian, Virginia, the Central Missouri women defeated Felician in the championship match, 4-1.
- At the Windy City Classic in Morton Grove, Illinois, the McKendree women rallied in the championship match to win, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3.
For the full schedule of collegiate events, results and more, visit BOWL.com/Collegiate and CollegeBowling.Bowl.com.
The 2026 event featured 12 varsity teams in the men’s division and 11 varsity squads in the women’s field. The format included five traditional games and 12 Baker games to determine the top four teams for the bracket.
Each bracket round was contested in a best-of-three Baker format.
In qualifying, Coe cruised to the top seed in the men’s division. They finished with a 7,221 total, more than 310 pins ahead of Iowa Central CC (6,902). Viterbo placed third with 6,867, and Briar Cliff earned the final spot in the bracket with 6,845.
The Kohawks defeated Briar Cliff in the opening round, 2-1, to earn their spot in the title match against Iowa Central. The Tritons advanced with a 2-1 win over Viterbo.
Coe swept Iowa Central in the championship round, posting wins of 190-159 and 219-190 to record the victory.
In the men’s individual standings, Iowa Central’s Nicholas Rajkovic and Samuel Katzenberger paced the field. Rajkovic led the way with a 1,143 total for five games (228.6 average), and Katzenberger was second with 1,090. Briar Cliff’s Christian Davis finished third with 1,052, while Coe’s Lucas Dolphin and Wartburg’s Ryland Prokopec tied for fourth with 1,028.
A strong Baker set helped Coe ascend to the top qualifying position in the women’s division with a 6,538 total. Iowa Central (6,329) and Viterbo (5,980) followed in the standings, and Waldorf edged College of Saint Mary by two pins for fourth with 5,903.
The first round of bracket action included a 2-0 win by the Kohawks over Waldorf, while Iowa Central put together a 2-1 victory over Viterbo to advance to the finals.
The women’s championship round finished the same as the men’s title tilt. Coe delivered a 2-0 sweep (204-180 and 195-152) to take home the win.
Iowa Central’s Macy Smedley posted the top five-game score in the women’s division, finishing with a 939 total (187.8 average). Three of the next four spots went to student-athletes from Coe. Jenna Rieder (916), Morgan Corley (894) and Kaylee Harris (853) placed second, third and fifth, respectively. Waldorf’s Angel Schuyler was fourth with 871.
In other collegiate action:
- The Boilermaker Classic in Lafayette, Indiana, was contested as a single-day event Saturday and featured five traditional games. The Huntington women and Marian-Indiana men earned the top spots.
- The Boilermaker Shootout followed Sunday in Lafayette and featured 25 Baker games. The Trine men and women emerged victorious. On the women’s side, Trine claimed the win by just three pins over Huntington.
- At the Destination Florida event in Orlando, Florida, the Jacksonville State women defeated Nebraska in the championship match, 4-2.
- At the VUU Invitational in Midlothian, Virginia, the Central Missouri women defeated Felician in the championship match, 4-1.
- At the Windy City Classic in Morton Grove, Illinois, the McKendree women rallied in the championship match to win, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3.
For the full schedule of collegiate events, results and more, visit BOWL.com/Collegiate and CollegeBowling.Bowl.com.