Bowling punches ticket to Smyrna Tennessee for USBC Sectionals

The Muskingum Men's and Women's bowling teams have punched their ticket to Smyrna, Tennessee to compete in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sectionals. The two-day event will be hosted at Smyrna Bowling Center on March 11-12.

Sectional Qualifying will consist of a two-day competition, with the top-four finishers in the men's and women's divisions at each sectional qualifier advancing to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.

For the Men

The Muskies are ranked 18th in the latest USBC power rankings. Muskingum has competed in a total of 12 tournaments this season, with five of them marked as tier-one events. Muskingum has been crowned tournament champions in four tier-two tournaments while also tallying three top-10 finishes in tier-one tournaments.  

The team is led by junior Ethan McDonald, who leads Muskingum with a stellar 207.219 average, and has nine top-25 finishes. McDonald also leads the team with seven top-ten finishes and currently ranks 49th out of 470 of the top bowlers in the country.

Sophomore Evan Thro continues to have an impressive campaign with a 206.35 average, tallying eight top-25 finishes, and leads the team with four top-five finishes. Thro also set the school record in a four-game series tallying a score of 1021 en route to securing an Ohio Bowling Conference championship earlier this season. He currently ranks 59th in the country.

Freshman Brody Wildenmann is averaging 200.683 this season, with eight top-25 finishes, two top-five finishes, and one first-place finish. Wildenmann ranks 118th in the country and 14th amongst rookie bowlers.

For the Women

The Muskies are ranked 59th in the latest USBC power rankings. Muskingum has competed in a total of 12 tournaments this season, with five of them marked as tier-one events. The Muskies have collected two team championships in two tier-two tournaments while also tallying three top-12 finishes in tier-one tournaments.

The team is led by sophomore Kaylee Hauck, who leads Muskingum with an exceptional 181.581 average, and has three top-five finishes. Earlier this season, Hauck rolled a school-record five-game series of 1090 en route to finishing first at the Muskie Mash. She currently ranks 150th out of 356 of the top bowlers in the country.

Sophomore Kelsey Wilson is having a solid campaign with a 177.8 average and has notched three top-10 finishes this season. Wilson ranks 191st in the country.

Freshman Elizabeth Springsteen is averaging 177.741 this season, with four top-ten finishes and one top-five finish. Springsteen currently ranks 193rd in the country and 28th among 75 rookie bowlers.

In order to qualify for sectionals an intercollegiate bowling team must become one of the top 80 men's or top 64 women's schools during the regular season to advance into the postseason competition and participate in the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Sectional Qualifying events.