Collegiate Ticker - Oct. 23, 2024
October 23, 2024
Last weekend saw 11 events take place across the country, highlighted by the Mid-States Championships in Wichita, Kansas, the second Tier I event of the 2024-2025 United States Bowling Congress Collegiate season.
Thirty-two men’s varsity teams and 27 women’s varsity teams came into Wichita looking for a win, but they first had to bowl six individual games and 16 Baker games to qualify for match play. The top eight after qualifying moved on to match play for the best-of-five bracket.
By the end of match play, the Newman men and Wichita State women were the final two teams standing after battling their way through the bracket.
Newman qualified as the No. 4 seed and faced No. 5 McKendree in the opening round, knocking them out by a score of 3-2. In the semifinals, Newman took on top-seeded Wichita State and defeated them, 3-1, to advance to the championship match against No. 3 Oklahoma Christian.
The two schools were tied at one game apiece after two, but Newman got the victory after shooting 208 and 234 to take home its first Tier I victory of the season.
Josh Hammons of Wichita State led all men in individuals, averaging 239.3 for six games for a grand total of 1,436, while teammate Brandon Bonta took second with 1,377. Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah’s Aidan Furukawa took third (1,334), while Oklahoma Christian teammates Landon Connell (1,332) and Carter Robinson (1,303) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
On the women’s side, Wichita State qualified as the top seed in the bracket and faced No. 8 Oklahoma Christian in the opening round. The match went all five games, but the Shockers prevailed after being down 2-1 to advance to the semifinals against No. 5 William Penn. The semis also went the distance before Wichita State won to play for the title.
Facing Sam Houston, the Shockers won Game 1 before losing Game 2, then shot back-to-back 195s to Sam Houston’s 176 and 186 to win the Tier I event.
Wichita State had three players in the top five: Sara Duque finished second with 1,235, Piper Reams third with 1,232 and Madison Phillps fifth with 1,207. SCAD-Savannah’s Grace Bringham led all women with 1,240 while Sam Houston’s Denise Blankenzee was fourth with 1,213.
In other collegiate action:
- At Destination Orlando in Orlando, Florida, the Jacksonville State women defeated Nebraska in the championship match, 4-2, for the victory. Dannielle Henderson of Jacksonville State also had the tournament’s only 300 game during traditional matches.
- At the Eastern Intercollegiate Bowling Tournaments (EIBT) Event 1 in Kingston, New York, the William Paterson men had a strong final game to win.
- At the Five Seasons Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Mount Mercy men and women swept the event.
- At the Golden Bear Invite in Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania, the Mercyhurst women defeated Kutztown in five games for the title.
- At the Ohio Bowling Conference (OBC) Event 2 in Colombus, Ohio, the Ohio State men and Wright State women left with conference wins.
- At the Orange and Black Classic events in Beavercreek, Ohio, the Pikeville men and women swept the weekend in convincing fashion. Pikeville's Bryce Oliver averaged 263.6 for five games in the Black event with a 1,318 total.
- At the Stout Open in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the Viterbo men and Wisconsin-Madison women survived bracket match play to come out on top.
- At The Nelson in Grandville, Michigan, the Madonna men and Davenport women cruised to victory.
- At the Warhawk Classic in Rockford, Illinois, the Maryland Eastern Shore women defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater in five games for the title.
The collegiate season rolls on next weekend with 14 events on the docket.
For the full schedule of collegiate events, results and more, visit BOWL.com/Collegiate and CollegeBowling.Bowl.com.
Thirty-two men’s varsity teams and 27 women’s varsity teams came into Wichita looking for a win, but they first had to bowl six individual games and 16 Baker games to qualify for match play. The top eight after qualifying moved on to match play for the best-of-five bracket.
By the end of match play, the Newman men and Wichita State women were the final two teams standing after battling their way through the bracket.
Newman qualified as the No. 4 seed and faced No. 5 McKendree in the opening round, knocking them out by a score of 3-2. In the semifinals, Newman took on top-seeded Wichita State and defeated them, 3-1, to advance to the championship match against No. 3 Oklahoma Christian.
The two schools were tied at one game apiece after two, but Newman got the victory after shooting 208 and 234 to take home its first Tier I victory of the season.
Josh Hammons of Wichita State led all men in individuals, averaging 239.3 for six games for a grand total of 1,436, while teammate Brandon Bonta took second with 1,377. Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah’s Aidan Furukawa took third (1,334), while Oklahoma Christian teammates Landon Connell (1,332) and Carter Robinson (1,303) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
On the women’s side, Wichita State qualified as the top seed in the bracket and faced No. 8 Oklahoma Christian in the opening round. The match went all five games, but the Shockers prevailed after being down 2-1 to advance to the semifinals against No. 5 William Penn. The semis also went the distance before Wichita State won to play for the title.
Facing Sam Houston, the Shockers won Game 1 before losing Game 2, then shot back-to-back 195s to Sam Houston’s 176 and 186 to win the Tier I event.
Wichita State had three players in the top five: Sara Duque finished second with 1,235, Piper Reams third with 1,232 and Madison Phillps fifth with 1,207. SCAD-Savannah’s Grace Bringham led all women with 1,240 while Sam Houston’s Denise Blankenzee was fourth with 1,213.
In other collegiate action:
- At Destination Orlando in Orlando, Florida, the Jacksonville State women defeated Nebraska in the championship match, 4-2, for the victory. Dannielle Henderson of Jacksonville State also had the tournament’s only 300 game during traditional matches.
- At the Eastern Intercollegiate Bowling Tournaments (EIBT) Event 1 in Kingston, New York, the William Paterson men had a strong final game to win.
- At the Five Seasons Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Mount Mercy men and women swept the event.
- At the Golden Bear Invite in Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania, the Mercyhurst women defeated Kutztown in five games for the title.
- At the Ohio Bowling Conference (OBC) Event 2 in Colombus, Ohio, the Ohio State men and Wright State women left with conference wins.
- At the Orange and Black Classic events in Beavercreek, Ohio, the Pikeville men and women swept the weekend in convincing fashion. Pikeville's Bryce Oliver averaged 263.6 for five games in the Black event with a 1,318 total.
- At the Stout Open in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the Viterbo men and Wisconsin-Madison women survived bracket match play to come out on top.
- At The Nelson in Grandville, Michigan, the Madonna men and Davenport women cruised to victory.
- At the Warhawk Classic in Rockford, Illinois, the Maryland Eastern Shore women defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater in five games for the title.
The collegiate season rolls on next weekend with 14 events on the docket.
For the full schedule of collegiate events, results and more, visit BOWL.com/Collegiate and CollegeBowling.Bowl.com.