Muskie Men Ride Tournament Win To Conference Championship With A Dominant Performance

The penultimate weekend of the USBC Collegiate season featured conference championships across the college bowling world. The Ohio Bowling Conference was set to crown its seventh conference champion at OBC 4.

The conference championship is decided on a points system that awards points equivalent to the finishing order for each tournament. Three teams entered OBC 4 with a mathematical shot at the conference title: Muskingum, Robert Morris University and Ohio Northern. The Muskies entered OBC 4 with nine points, while RMU and ONU each had 10 points.

OBC 4 is set up as a 32-game baker format divided into eight four-game blocks, which mirrors the single-day format of ITC Sectionals.

"The format is demanding because no matter what oil pattern you put out there, after 24 games it's completely obliterated," said head coach David Jones.

The Muskies got off to a mixed start in Block 1, with two rough games sandwiched between two great games, and sat in second place at +59 (pins over a 200 average). Block 2 proved to be where the Muskies took control, going +112 for the block and taking over the tournament lead. Starting with a 277 in Game 3, the Muskies ripped off 14 consecutive games over 200, which included games of 254, 274, 268 and 264. With blocks of +169 and +196, Muskingum built a commanding lead.

"I knew that we had to get as many pins out of the right side as we could early. We are a team of shot shapers and only have two righties that can power the lane when the burn hits," Jones said. "I kept Alex (Smith), my lefty, fresh for the back half of the tournament."

Senior John Jacobs stepped in during the second block and was dominant throughout the middle blocks.

"From slaving away at practice to high-tension moments, it was everything that I've been training for. The moment couldn't have been brighter, and I couldn't have been more locked in to help this team succeed the way I know I can," Jacobs said about his performance.

Junior Jacob Willard anchored the team for the entire day and turned in an outstanding performance, filling 29 of 30 tenth frames.

"Willard missed a 10-pin in the 10th frame of Game 11, and I told him, 'That's it — you're not missing anymore.' He didn't the rest of the day," Jones said of the junior anchor.

Jones turned to Smith in Game 23, and the sophomore didn't let him down, striking on his first eight shots.

"I knew that we had to build a big lead early. Ohio State had three lefties that were going to have a good look at the end," Jones said.

The Muskies held a 142-pin lead heading into the final block, where they drew the lowest-scoring pair of the tournament.

"There's always a pivotal moment in tournaments. Sometimes they're obvious and sometimes not," Jones commented. "I thought it was when I had a team talk after I felt we lost focus during Game 22. It turned out to be Game 30."

The Muskies started the game with three splits and opened four times in the first six frames.

"That lane was definitely getting the best of us," Jones recalled.

Junior Talon Newton, who moments earlier was the victim of a 7-10 split, ripped the rack for a momentum-changing strike. Sophomore Caelan Guthrie delivered as he had all day with a second. Senior Brody Wildenmann followed with a third. Willard continued his dominant performance by adding two more strikes in the 10th frame.

When the dust settled, the Muskies rallied for a 190 game. It proved to be a crucial moment, as a red-hot Ohio State team closed the gap and finished just 18 pins short. The difference handed the tournament win to Muskingum, as well as the Ohio Bowling Conference championship for the third time.

Jacobs reflected on the championship.

"My emotions were pure joy and accomplishment, being a part of this team and being able to win my senior year's OBC championship. Although we were able to take the win, there is still more for this team to accomplish. We have a whole postseason ahead of us, and our destiny is written in it. We need to ride these emotions throughout it all."

The Muskies wrap up the regular season next Saturday and Sunday in Indianapolis at the Hoosier Classic.