Saginaw Valley State, Lindenwood look to repeat at USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
04/10/07
Heading into the 2006-07 season, Saginaw Valley State anchor Dan MacLelland wasn't sure his team was capable of repeating as champions at the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.
He has little doubt now.
MacLelland powered the Cardinals to the men's national championship last season and will look to do so again when the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships begin April 19 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.
Despite losing two key players from last year's team, Saginaw Valley State has been reinvigorated by the play of freshman J.R. Raymond and junior Toby Sidle, giving MacLelland hope for a repeat performance.
"I think we have a pretty good chance at repeating, but there are some great teams like Lindenwood, Wichita State and Pikeville out there," said MacLelland, who won three medals for his home country of Canada at the 2006 World Youth Championships. "It's a tough field, but our group of guys has really come together as friends and I think that gives us an edge."
The top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country will gather at Northrock Lanes from April 19-21. The finals will be televised nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV) on a tape-delayed basis.
The Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. Teams will bowl 32 Baker games on April 19 to determine seeds for double-elimination match play, which will be held April 20-21.
On the women's side, Lindenwood will look to become the first women's repeat champion since West Texas State (now A&M) accomplished the feat in 1987-88. The Lions will have to do so without the player who guided them to the title last season, Jessica Lesagonicz, who graduated.
The rest of the women's field includes Wichita State, the top-ranked team in the country by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association, second-ranked Pikeville and No. 3 Central Florida.
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State enters as the top-ranked team while Wichita State is second and Fresno State is third.
Teams advanced to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships by finishing among the top four in Sectional Qualifiers held in March.
UsBC Collegiate
Heading into the 2006-07 season, Saginaw Valley State anchor Dan MacLelland wasn't sure his team was capable of repeating as champions at the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.He has little doubt now.
MacLelland powered the Cardinals to the men's national championship last season and will look to do so again when the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships begin April 19 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.
Despite losing two key players from last year's team, Saginaw Valley State has been reinvigorated by the play of freshman J.R. Raymond and junior Toby Sidle, giving MacLelland hope for a repeat performance.
"I think we have a pretty good chance at repeating, but there are some great teams like Lindenwood, Wichita State and Pikeville out there," said MacLelland, who won three medals for his home country of Canada at the 2006 World Youth Championships. "It's a tough field, but our group of guys has really come together as friends and I think that gives us an edge."
The top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country will gather at Northrock Lanes from April 19-21. The finals will be televised nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV) on a tape-delayed basis.
The Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. Teams will bowl 32 Baker games on April 19 to determine seeds for double-elimination match play, which will be held April 20-21.
On the women's side, Lindenwood will look to become the first women's repeat champion since West Texas State (now A&M) accomplished the feat in 1987-88. The Lions will have to do so without the player who guided them to the title last season, Jessica Lesagonicz, who graduated.
The rest of the women's field includes Wichita State, the top-ranked team in the country by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association, second-ranked Pikeville and No. 3 Central Florida.
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State enters as the top-ranked team while Wichita State is second and Fresno State is third.
Teams advanced to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships by finishing among the top four in Sectional Qualifiers held in March.