Kats open season ranked 8th in NTCA poll

The Sam Houston bowling team will enter the 2023-24 season ranked in the top 10 of the National Ten Pin Coaches Association preseason poll for the 13th consecutive season.

The Bearkats come in at No. 8 as the team prepares to start play on Friday in the first regular season tournament of the year at Colonial Lanes Classic hosted by Tulane in Harahan, Louisiana.

"Winning is hard and to do it on a consistent high-level year in and out is organized chaos," head coach Brad Hagen said. "Our main focus is to stay competitively relevant with whom we have and no matter who the new faces and personalities are. Year in and out is always challenging, demanding and exciting, but we all have jobs we have to do, goals to check and standards to strive for that never change."

The Kats return decorated veterans Denise Blankenzee, Kaia Gray and Alexia Cassman off of last's year's squard that advanced to the NCAA Arlington Regional. Sam Houston also added two newcomers Carli Betz, Ramita Sarnton, Stephanie McCoy, Rachel Ong, Katie Paris and Cassie De La Fuente who will look to leave their mark on the program this season.

"This is a very young but old team we have this year and one of the youngest since our inception, but the amount of talent and potential depth is endless," Hagen added. "Building consistency and momentum is key early while we establish lineups and continue to develop our position players. We will certainly lean on the ones who have the competitive experience to keep us on track, but if we continue to develop, and grow together, the season will be another exciting one where we can make a very deep run."

Follow along with the Colonial Lanes Classic at the following links:

DAY 1

Stream 1— Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | Oct. 13

https://www.youtube.com/live/Ty5e_-QRS7A?feature=shared

Stream 2

https://www.youtube.com/live/RtRWWJclGXA?feature=shared

Stream 3

https://www.youtube.com/live/2hBip6HpYIE?feature=shared

DAY 2

Stream 1 — Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | Oct. 14

https://www.youtube.com/live/rMTe7zGPguE?feature=shared

Stream 2

https://www.youtube.com/live/WByHg5clrIk?feature=shared