Lindenwood, Saginaw Valley State claim titles at 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
04/30/06
With help from their key players in the final frame, the Lindenwood women and Saginaw Valley State men claimed national championships Saturday at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Both teams swept their opponents in the best-of-three Baker games championship match. The Lions defeated Central Florida 194-168 and 192-191 while the Cardinals took care of Newman 201-189 and 176-174.
The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season and featured the top teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl.
Lindenwood (pictured) senior Jessica Lesagonicz stepped up in the final frame of Game 2 needing two strikes and seven to secure a victory. After the first shot crossed over and carried for a strike, she was perfect on the second shot. On the fill ball, she got just enough - leaving a 3-6-10 for the win.
"The pressure was on, and I love it," Lesagonicz said. "I went up there and did the best I could. I don't believe it yet. It's been a long four years, and we've finally done it. It's a great feeling."
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State (pictured) got a clutch strike from anchor Dan MacLelland to propel it to victory. Trailing until the eighth frame, MacLelland pushed the Cardinals ahead with a strike on the first ball in the 10th for a double.
Newman's Cory Simmons, a USBC Team USA member in 2005, struck on the first ball in the 10th, but went high on the second shot - leaving a 4-7 and giving Saginaw Valley State the championship.
"On Thursday, we really didn't have a good look anywhere, but Friday we came out and had a lot of motivation behind us," MacLelland said. "We just played off each other, read off each other's moves and talked to each other like we did in our 11 other wins this year."
The Cardinals' victory marked their third national championship overall, all coming under long-time coach Dan Dorion.
"What they have accomplished here today will go with them the rest of their lives," said Dorion, whose team also won in 1991 and 1997. "They will always be national champions. It is a life-changing experience. It will give them more pride in whatever field they go into."
Saginaw Valley State had two players named to the men's All-Tournament Team with MacLelland and Anthony LaCaze joining Brian Valenta of Lindenwood, Collin Kerschner of Purdue and T.J. Mento of Wichita State. Cory Simmons was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
For the women, Lindsey Coulles of Morehead State was named the Most Valuable Player while Stefanie Nation of Central Florida, Maryetta Lewis of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Amy Corbin of Morehead State and Lesagonicz also made the All-Tournament Team.
The 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships was sponsored by Brunswick, Pepsi and Kegel, the official lane maintenance provider of USBC.
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
Semifinals
(3) Newman 4, (2) Lindenwood 3 (Lindenwood eliminated)
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (4) Wichita State 2 (Wichita State eliminated)
Finals
(9) Saginaw Valley State 2, (3) Newman 0
(Game 1 - Saginaw Valley State 201, Newman 189;
Game 2 - Saginaw Valley State 176, Newman 174)
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
Semifinals
(9) Lindenwood 4, (1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 3 (Maryland-Eastern Shore eliminated)
(6) Central Florida 4, (2) Morehead State 3
(6) Central Florida 4.5, (2) Morehead State 3.5 (Morehead State eliminated)
Finals
(9) Lindenwood 2, (6) Central Florida 0
(Game 1 - Lindenwood 194, Central Florida 168;
Game 2 - Lindenwood 192, Central Florida 191)
Eight teams still alive at 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Eight teams kept their national title hopes alive Friday by advancing to the semifinals at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season with the top teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl.
Four teams punched their ticket to the semifinals early in the day. The Newman and Saginaw Valley State men along with the Lindenwood and Morehead State women all went undefeated Friday and only need to win one more match Saturday to advance to the nationally-televised finals (tape-delayed on CSTV).
"Our team chemistry was pretty much there, and we fought back in a lot of matches," said Newman anchor and 2005 Team USA member Cory Simmons, whose team beat defending champion Lindenwood to make the semifinals. "It always feels good to beat last year's champions. They bowled a great match but great team work pushed us past them today."
Joining the undefeated teams in the semifinals are the Central Florida and Maryland-Eastern Shore women as well as the Lindenwood and Wichita State men. Each of those teams need to win two matches Saturday against their semifinal opponents to make the television finals.
"We've got a longer job to do, but we're going to do whatever it takes to get it done," said Central Florida anchor Stephanie Nation, a three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion and 2005-06 Collegiate Most Valuable Player. "It's a grueling process."
In the women's semifinals Central Florida will battle Morehead State while Lindenwood takes on Maryland-Eastern Shore, which knocked out defending champion Wichita State on Friday.
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State will face Wichita State while Newman takes on Lindenwood.
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
First Round
(1) Central Florida 4, (16) Erie Community College 2
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4.5, (8) Kansas 2.5
(5) Purdue 4, (12) Vincennes 2
(4) Wichita State 4, (13) St. John's 3
(2) Lindenwood 4, (15) Arizona State 2
(10) Morehead State 4, (7) Nebraska 3
(6) Fresno State 4, (11) Michigan State 0
(3) Newman 4, (14) Western Illinois 2
Second Round
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (1) Central Florida 1
(3) Newman 4, (6) Fresno State 2
(2) Lindenwood 4, (10) Morehead State 3
(4) Wichita State 4, (5) Purdue 3
(7) Nebraska 4, (15) Arizona State 0 (Arizona State eliminated)
(14) Western Illinois 4, (11) Michigan State 1 (Michigan State eliminated)
(12) Vincennes 4, (13) St. John's 1 (St. John's eliminated)
(16) Erie Community College 4, (8) Kansas 1 (Kansas eliminated)
Third Round
(3) Newman 4, (2) Lindenwood 0
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (4) Wichita State 3
(12) Vincennes 4, (1) Central Florida 1 (Central Florida eliminated)
(5) Purdue 4, (16) Erie Community College 1 (Erie Community College eliminated)
(10) Morehead State 4, (14) Western Illinois 1 (Western Illinois eliminated)
(7) Nebraska 4, (6) Fresno State 2 (Fresno State eliminated)
Fourth Round
(10) Morehead State 4, (7) Nebraska 1 (Nebraska eliminated)
(5) Purdue 4, (12) Vincennes 3 (Vincennes eliminated)
Fifth Round
(2) Lindenwood 4, (10) Morehead State 1 (Morehead State eliminated)
(4) Wichita State 4.5, (5) Purdue 2.5 (Purdue eliminated)
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
First Round
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (16) South Florida 1
(9) Lindenwood 4, (8) Purdue 3
(12) West Texas A&M 4, (5) Shippensburg 1
(4) Wichita State 4, (13) Penn State 1
(2) Morehead State 4, (15) Western Illinois 2
(7) Pikeville 4, (10) Nebraska-Omaha 0
(6) Central Florida 4, (11) Newman 2
(3) Fresno State 4, (14) Ball State 2
Second Round
(2) Morehead State 4, ( 7) Pikeville 1
(4) Wichita State 4, (12) West Texas A&M 1
(6) Central Florida 4, (3) Fresno State 2
(9) Lindenwood 4, (1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 3
(8) Purdue 4, (16) South Florida 0 (South Florida eliminated)
(11) Newman 4, (14) Ball State 1 (Ball State eliminated)
(15) Western Illinois 4, (10) Nebraska-Omaha 2 (Nebraska-Omaha eliminated)
(13) Penn State 4, (5) Shippensburg 3 (Shippensburg eliminated)
Third Round
(2) Morehead State 4, (6) Central Florida 0
(9) Lindenwood 4, (4) Wichita State 1
(15) Western Illinois 4, (3) Fresno State 0 (Fresno State eliminated)
(12) West Texas A&M 4, (8) Purdue 0 (Purdue eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4.5, (13) Penn State 2.5 (Penn State eliminated)
(7) Pikeville 4.5, (11) Newman 3.5 (Newman eliminated)
Fourth Round
(15) Western Illinois 4, (7) Pikeville 1 (Pikeville eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (12) West Texas A&M 2 (West Texas A&M eliminated)
Fifth Round
(6) Central Florida 4, (15) Western Illinois 2 (Western Illinois eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (4) Wichita State 1 (Wichita State eliminated)
The Maryland-Eastern Shore women and Central Florida men began their quest for national championships by claiming the top seeds after qualifying Thursday at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season with the top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.
The Knights dominated the men's field in the 32 Baker system games, totaling 6,376 to lead second-place and defending champion Lindenwood by more than 200 pins.
"We pretty much said we were going to lead this after today and we did," said Central Florida anchor Shawn Ryan, a member of USBC Junior Team USA in 2005. "We bowled really well as a team, and we met our short-term goal."
The Hawks secured the top seed with a 228 final game on their way to a 5,864 total. Morehead State was second at 5,781, while defending champion Wichita State was fourth at 5,744.
Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only team in the field that competed in the NCAA Women's Championships two weeks ago in Houston.
"I knew from two weeks ago that we had to come in here focused and had to make our spares," said Hawks coach Sharon Brummell, whose team went 0-2 in match play at the NCAA Women's Championships. "We found the shot early and made moves early, and that's what we didn't do a couple weeks ago."
All teams advanced to the double-elimination, match-play bracket Friday, where the field will be cut to the top four men's and women's teams by the end of the day. The semifinals will be conducted Saturday morning with the top two men's and women's teams advancing to the nationally-televised finals, which will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on College Sports Television (CSTV).
MEN
1, Central Florida, 6,376 (199.25 average). 2, Lindenwood, 6,160. 3, Newman, 6,106. 4, Wichita State, 6,089. 5, Purdue, 5,927. 6, Fresno State, 5,923. 7, Nebraska, 5,856. 8, Kansas 5,845. 9, Saginaw Valley State, 5,760. 10 (tie), Morehead State and Michigan State, 5,718. 12, Vincennes, 5,713. 13, St. John's, 5,690. 14, Western Illinois, 5,632. 15, Arizona State, 5,488. 16, Erie Community College, 5,330.
WOMEN
1, Maryland-Eastern Shore, 5,864 (183.25). 2, Morehead State, 5,781. 3, Fresno State, 5,767. 4, Wichita State, 5,744. 5, Shippensburg, 5,740. 6, Central Florida, 5,738. 7, Pikeville, 5,671. 8, Purdue, 5,558. 9, Lindenwood, 5,526. 10, Nebraska-Omaha, 5,501. 11, Newman, 5,408. 12, West Texas A&M, 5,402. 13, Penn State, 5,282. 14, Ball State, 5,268. 15, Western Illinois, 5,237. 16, South Florida, 5,098.
The Lindenwood men's and Wichita State women's teams will try to fend off the best teams in the country as they look to repeat as national champions at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country will gather at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill., from April 26-29. The finals will be televised nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV) on a tape-delayed basis.
The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, formerly known as the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. Teams will bowl 32 Baker games on April 27 to determine seeds for the double-elimination match play, which will be held April 28-29.
The Wichita State women enter the event not only as the defending champions but also as the top-ranked team in the country in the Bowling Writers Association of America Top 20 poll.
The Shockers, making their 25th consecutive appearance at the championships this year, swept West Texas A&M in the title match last year to win a record seventh national title.
The rest of the women's field includes second-ranked Central Florida and No. 3 Fresno State, both of which received first-place votes in the final BWAA poll. Pikeville, which won the 2004 title, is ranked sixth.
A year after playing the role of underdog on its way to the title, the Lindenwood men enter this year's championships as the fourth-ranked team in the country. The Lions, ranked 12th heading into the event last year, defeated Fresno State 2-0 to win the title.
The other top teams in the men's field include No. 1 Wichita State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley State and No. 3 Fresno State.
Teams advanced to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships by finishing among the top four in Sectional Qualifiers held in March.
USBC Collegiate
Bowling Alley: The Cherry Bowl, Rockford, Ill.
With help from their key players in the final frame, the Lindenwood women and Saginaw Valley State men claimed national championships Saturday at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. Both teams swept their opponents in the best-of-three Baker games championship match. The Lions defeated Central Florida 194-168 and 192-191 while the Cardinals took care of Newman 201-189 and 176-174.
The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season and featured the top teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl.
Lindenwood (pictured) senior Jessica Lesagonicz stepped up in the final frame of Game 2 needing two strikes and seven to secure a victory. After the first shot crossed over and carried for a strike, she was perfect on the second shot. On the fill ball, she got just enough - leaving a 3-6-10 for the win. "The pressure was on, and I love it," Lesagonicz said. "I went up there and did the best I could. I don't believe it yet. It's been a long four years, and we've finally done it. It's a great feeling."
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State (pictured) got a clutch strike from anchor Dan MacLelland to propel it to victory. Trailing until the eighth frame, MacLelland pushed the Cardinals ahead with a strike on the first ball in the 10th for a double. Newman's Cory Simmons, a USBC Team USA member in 2005, struck on the first ball in the 10th, but went high on the second shot - leaving a 4-7 and giving Saginaw Valley State the championship.
"On Thursday, we really didn't have a good look anywhere, but Friday we came out and had a lot of motivation behind us," MacLelland said. "We just played off each other, read off each other's moves and talked to each other like we did in our 11 other wins this year."
The Cardinals' victory marked their third national championship overall, all coming under long-time coach Dan Dorion.
"What they have accomplished here today will go with them the rest of their lives," said Dorion, whose team also won in 1991 and 1997. "They will always be national champions. It is a life-changing experience. It will give them more pride in whatever field they go into."
Saginaw Valley State had two players named to the men's All-Tournament Team with MacLelland and Anthony LaCaze joining Brian Valenta of Lindenwood, Collin Kerschner of Purdue and T.J. Mento of Wichita State. Cory Simmons was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
For the women, Lindsey Coulles of Morehead State was named the Most Valuable Player while Stefanie Nation of Central Florida, Maryetta Lewis of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Amy Corbin of Morehead State and Lesagonicz also made the All-Tournament Team.
The 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships was sponsored by Brunswick, Pepsi and Kegel, the official lane maintenance provider of USBC.
2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships - Men's Finals
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
Semifinals
(3) Newman 4, (2) Lindenwood 3 (Lindenwood eliminated)
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (4) Wichita State 2 (Wichita State eliminated)
Finals
(9) Saginaw Valley State 2, (3) Newman 0
(Game 1 - Saginaw Valley State 201, Newman 189;
Game 2 - Saginaw Valley State 176, Newman 174)
2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships - Men's Finals
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
Semifinals
(9) Lindenwood 4, (1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 3 (Maryland-Eastern Shore eliminated)
(6) Central Florida 4, (2) Morehead State 3
(6) Central Florida 4.5, (2) Morehead State 3.5 (Morehead State eliminated)
Finals
(9) Lindenwood 2, (6) Central Florida 0
(Game 1 - Lindenwood 194, Central Florida 168;
Game 2 - Lindenwood 192, Central Florida 191)
Eight teams still alive at 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
Eight teams still alive at 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Eight teams kept their national title hopes alive Friday by advancing to the semifinals at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season with the top teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl. Four teams punched their ticket to the semifinals early in the day. The Newman and Saginaw Valley State men along with the Lindenwood and Morehead State women all went undefeated Friday and only need to win one more match Saturday to advance to the nationally-televised finals (tape-delayed on CSTV).
"Our team chemistry was pretty much there, and we fought back in a lot of matches," said Newman anchor and 2005 Team USA member Cory Simmons, whose team beat defending champion Lindenwood to make the semifinals. "It always feels good to beat last year's champions. They bowled a great match but great team work pushed us past them today."
Joining the undefeated teams in the semifinals are the Central Florida and Maryland-Eastern Shore women as well as the Lindenwood and Wichita State men. Each of those teams need to win two matches Saturday against their semifinal opponents to make the television finals.
"We've got a longer job to do, but we're going to do whatever it takes to get it done," said Central Florida anchor Stephanie Nation, a three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion and 2005-06 Collegiate Most Valuable Player. "It's a grueling process."
In the women's semifinals Central Florida will battle Morehead State while Lindenwood takes on Maryland-Eastern Shore, which knocked out defending champion Wichita State on Friday.
On the men's side, Saginaw Valley State will face Wichita State while Newman takes on Lindenwood.
2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships - Men's Match Play
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
First Round
(1) Central Florida 4, (16) Erie Community College 2
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4.5, (8) Kansas 2.5
(5) Purdue 4, (12) Vincennes 2
(4) Wichita State 4, (13) St. John's 3
(2) Lindenwood 4, (15) Arizona State 2
(10) Morehead State 4, (7) Nebraska 3
(6) Fresno State 4, (11) Michigan State 0
(3) Newman 4, (14) Western Illinois 2
Second Round
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (1) Central Florida 1
(3) Newman 4, (6) Fresno State 2
(2) Lindenwood 4, (10) Morehead State 3
(4) Wichita State 4, (5) Purdue 3
(7) Nebraska 4, (15) Arizona State 0 (Arizona State eliminated)
(14) Western Illinois 4, (11) Michigan State 1 (Michigan State eliminated)
(12) Vincennes 4, (13) St. John's 1 (St. John's eliminated)
(16) Erie Community College 4, (8) Kansas 1 (Kansas eliminated)
Third Round
(3) Newman 4, (2) Lindenwood 0
(9) Saginaw Valley State 4, (4) Wichita State 3
(12) Vincennes 4, (1) Central Florida 1 (Central Florida eliminated)
(5) Purdue 4, (16) Erie Community College 1 (Erie Community College eliminated)
(10) Morehead State 4, (14) Western Illinois 1 (Western Illinois eliminated)
(7) Nebraska 4, (6) Fresno State 2 (Fresno State eliminated)
Fourth Round
(10) Morehead State 4, (7) Nebraska 1 (Nebraska eliminated)
(5) Purdue 4, (12) Vincennes 3 (Vincennes eliminated)
Fifth Round
(2) Lindenwood 4, (10) Morehead State 1 (Morehead State eliminated)
(4) Wichita State 4.5, (5) Purdue 2.5 (Purdue eliminated)
2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships - Women's Match Play
Best-of-seven Baker, double elimination
First Round
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (16) South Florida 1
(9) Lindenwood 4, (8) Purdue 3
(12) West Texas A&M 4, (5) Shippensburg 1
(4) Wichita State 4, (13) Penn State 1
(2) Morehead State 4, (15) Western Illinois 2
(7) Pikeville 4, (10) Nebraska-Omaha 0
(6) Central Florida 4, (11) Newman 2
(3) Fresno State 4, (14) Ball State 2
Second Round
(2) Morehead State 4, ( 7) Pikeville 1
(4) Wichita State 4, (12) West Texas A&M 1
(6) Central Florida 4, (3) Fresno State 2
(9) Lindenwood 4, (1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 3
(8) Purdue 4, (16) South Florida 0 (South Florida eliminated)
(11) Newman 4, (14) Ball State 1 (Ball State eliminated)
(15) Western Illinois 4, (10) Nebraska-Omaha 2 (Nebraska-Omaha eliminated)
(13) Penn State 4, (5) Shippensburg 3 (Shippensburg eliminated)
Third Round
(2) Morehead State 4, (6) Central Florida 0
(9) Lindenwood 4, (4) Wichita State 1
(15) Western Illinois 4, (3) Fresno State 0 (Fresno State eliminated)
(12) West Texas A&M 4, (8) Purdue 0 (Purdue eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4.5, (13) Penn State 2.5 (Penn State eliminated)
(7) Pikeville 4.5, (11) Newman 3.5 (Newman eliminated)
Fourth Round
(15) Western Illinois 4, (7) Pikeville 1 (Pikeville eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (12) West Texas A&M 2 (West Texas A&M eliminated)
Fifth Round
(6) Central Florida 4, (15) Western Illinois 2 (Western Illinois eliminated)
(1) Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, (4) Wichita State 1 (Wichita State eliminated)
Maryland-Eastern Shore, Central Florida take top seeds at 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
The Maryland-Eastern Shore women and Central Florida men began their quest for national championships by claiming the top seeds after qualifying Thursday at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season with the top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country vying for national titles at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.
The Knights dominated the men's field in the 32 Baker system games, totaling 6,376 to lead second-place and defending champion Lindenwood by more than 200 pins.
"We pretty much said we were going to lead this after today and we did," said Central Florida anchor Shawn Ryan, a member of USBC Junior Team USA in 2005. "We bowled really well as a team, and we met our short-term goal."
The Hawks secured the top seed with a 228 final game on their way to a 5,864 total. Morehead State was second at 5,781, while defending champion Wichita State was fourth at 5,744.
Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only team in the field that competed in the NCAA Women's Championships two weeks ago in Houston.
"I knew from two weeks ago that we had to come in here focused and had to make our spares," said Hawks coach Sharon Brummell, whose team went 0-2 in match play at the NCAA Women's Championships. "We found the shot early and made moves early, and that's what we didn't do a couple weeks ago."
All teams advanced to the double-elimination, match-play bracket Friday, where the field will be cut to the top four men's and women's teams by the end of the day. The semifinals will be conducted Saturday morning with the top two men's and women's teams advancing to the nationally-televised finals, which will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on College Sports Television (CSTV).
2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Qualifying (32 Baker games)
MEN
1, Central Florida, 6,376 (199.25 average). 2, Lindenwood, 6,160. 3, Newman, 6,106. 4, Wichita State, 6,089. 5, Purdue, 5,927. 6, Fresno State, 5,923. 7, Nebraska, 5,856. 8, Kansas 5,845. 9, Saginaw Valley State, 5,760. 10 (tie), Morehead State and Michigan State, 5,718. 12, Vincennes, 5,713. 13, St. John's, 5,690. 14, Western Illinois, 5,632. 15, Arizona State, 5,488. 16, Erie Community College, 5,330.
WOMEN
1, Maryland-Eastern Shore, 5,864 (183.25). 2, Morehead State, 5,781. 3, Fresno State, 5,767. 4, Wichita State, 5,744. 5, Shippensburg, 5,740. 6, Central Florida, 5,738. 7, Pikeville, 5,671. 8, Purdue, 5,558. 9, Lindenwood, 5,526. 10, Nebraska-Omaha, 5,501. 11, Newman, 5,408. 12, West Texas A&M, 5,402. 13, Penn State, 5,282. 14, Ball State, 5,268. 15, Western Illinois, 5,237. 16, South Florida, 5,098.
Wichita State, Lindenwood look to repeat at USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
The Lindenwood men's and Wichita State women's teams will try to fend off the best teams in the country as they look to repeat as national champions at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. The top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country will gather at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill., from April 26-29. The finals will be televised nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV) on a tape-delayed basis.
The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, formerly known as the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. Teams will bowl 32 Baker games on April 27 to determine seeds for the double-elimination match play, which will be held April 28-29.
The Wichita State women enter the event not only as the defending champions but also as the top-ranked team in the country in the Bowling Writers Association of America Top 20 poll.
The Shockers, making their 25th consecutive appearance at the championships this year, swept West Texas A&M in the title match last year to win a record seventh national title.
The rest of the women's field includes second-ranked Central Florida and No. 3 Fresno State, both of which received first-place votes in the final BWAA poll. Pikeville, which won the 2004 title, is ranked sixth.
A year after playing the role of underdog on its way to the title, the Lindenwood men enter this year's championships as the fourth-ranked team in the country. The Lions, ranked 12th heading into the event last year, defeated Fresno State 2-0 to win the title.
The other top teams in the men's field include No. 1 Wichita State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley State and No. 3 Fresno State.
Teams advanced to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships by finishing among the top four in Sectional Qualifiers held in March.