Kats claim top prize at historic event
10/11/2016 2:55:00 PM | Women's Bowling
The Bearkat bowlers got the 2016 season off to a strong start, winning the Mid-States Intercollegiate Bowling Tournament, hosted by Wichita State over the weekend.
In their first exhibition event prior to the Oct. 21 season opener at the Wildcat Invitational in Orlando, Fla., the No. 6 ranked Bearkats become the 57th winners of the annual club bowling event.
After finishing the opening day on top of the standings of the 16-team event, the Kats rolled through Day 2 bracket play. Against West Texas A&M Sam Houston was down 2-1 in a best of five format, before rallying to win the last two games. They then swept both Newman and Lindenwood to take the title.
“We can't reenact what we went through this past weekend with the emotions and the adversity,” said head coach Brad Hagen. “So this was exactly what we were looking for as we prep for our NCAA season.”
Janine Kuwahara was second ranked individual during the team baker format with a 221 average in six games and was named to the all-tournament team. Stephanie Zavala (207 average) and Heather Penatzer (201 average) also had top 25 finishes in the field of 152 competitors. Newcomer Taryn Gray had a 238 average in four games, including a team high 289 to close out the day.
“Just for the experience, momentum and confidence building as a team, this was a huge weekend,” Hagen said. “I wanted to get some competitive bowling in before the season got started and this tournament helped us accomplish that.”
The Bearkats will continue the exhibition portion of their schedule on Sunday as the host No. 22 Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech and Texas Southern at Triple J. Lanes in Livingston.
