Bowling News
ST. FRANCIS-ILL. WOMEN, ST. AMBROSE MEN WIN ISBPA MIDWEST COLLEGIATE CLASSIC
Aaron Smith
ADDISON, Ill. – The St. Francis-Illinois women and St. Ambrose men rallied to victories Sunday at the Kegel/ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic, a Tier I event on the 2019-2020 United States Bowling Congress Collegiate schedule.
The event was held over two days at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois, featuring 57 women’s and 75 men’s varsity programs. All teams competed in five traditional games Saturday and 20 Baker games Sunday over two squads, with total pinfall determining the champion in each division.
In the women’s division, St. Francis-Illinois started Sunday in third place in the overall standings but just 38 pins outside the lead. The Fighting Saints battled to the top spot and exchanged the lead throughout Sunday with Wichita State, eventually outlasting the Shockers during the final Baker block to secure the win with an 8,944 total. Wichita State finished with 8,883, and Mount Mercy took third with 8,789.
The win is the second Tier I victory of the season for St. Francis-Illinois. The Fighting Saints also captured the title at the Midwest Collegiate Championships in October.
In the women’s individual standings, St. Francis-Illinois’ Abby Ragsdale claimed the top spot with a 1,104 total (220.8 average) for her five-game block Saturday. Notre Dame-Ohio’s Alisha Noon was second with 1,077, and she was followed in the standings by Mount Mercy’s Cassidy Courey (1,062), Lewis’ Erin Biccochi (1,054) and Mount Mercy’s Ayra Aminuddin (1,050).
In the men’s division, St. Ambrose averaged more than 210 in Baker competition to erase a 153-pin deficit to start Sunday’s block, rolling to the win with a 9,492 score. Wichita State also benefitted from a strong Baker block to move into second with 9,366, while Calumet finished third with 9,328.
The win also marked the first Tier I title for St. Ambrose’s men’s program.
Calumet’s Daniel Chin rolled 269 in his final game Saturday to earn top individual honors, finishing with a 1,179 total (235.8 average). William Paterson’s Tiler Levesque was second with 1,167, and Wichita State’s Brandon Biondo (1,137), Calumet’s Pete Vergos (1,129) and St. Ambrose’s Dakota Solonka (1,128) also earned spots on the all-tournament team.
Both days of competition at the 2020 Kegel/ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic were broadcast live at BowlTV.com.
