The Wichita State University men’s bowling team came out on top Saturday, April 19, winning the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, held at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.

The national title is the most prestigious in college bowling, and it is just the second time in five years the WSU men have reached the top.

First a year ago, the women’s bowling team wasn’t as lucky this year, but finished a great season by winning second place.

Shocker senior Jesse Buss led the men’s team in the title match against the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. He struck in all four shots he threw and energized the team as the lead-off bowler.

The Shockers swept UNLV in the best of three game baker series, 202-171 and 203-169.

Buss’ week was that of one only seen in movies. Wednesday evening at the Night of Champions, Buss proposed to his girlfriend. He then led the team in the championship match, earning redemption from a disappointing 2007 season.

This year was one of the best seasons in Wichita State men’s history as the Shockers won six of 10 tournaments on the way to their eighth national title and the sixteenth of the WSU program. The Shockers started the season with four straight tournament victories and never finished worse than fifth.

Entering the championships, the Shockers found themselves as the second seed after qualifying, 20 pins away from being the top seed.

As the men battled through an opening match with Mohawk Valley, they regrouped in their next match, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater four games to one. After a bad loss to Saginaw Valley State University (4-1), the men fell to the contender’s bracket and met up with UW-Whitewater again.

The Shockers blew through Whitewater with a 4-0 sweep and earned a chance to redeem their loss to SVSU the next morning.

In a rematch with SVSU, the Shockers were forced to defeat the Cardinals in two straight series to advance.

The strong team unity gave the Shockers one last opportunity to show their hometown that this year was different. Heading into the final with UNLV, fans packed Northrock Lanes and cheered at a deafening level. The Shockers responded and brought home the victory in two decisive games.

“I am so happy that the hometown fans were able to see the men’s team play well,” said Shocker head coach Gordon Vadakin. “There is always a high expectation for us, and it isn’t easy to win these, but this was a great season capped off in the most perfect of ways: a title in our hometown, in front of our hometown fans.”

The Shocker women came into the tournament ranked No. 1 in the country and the reigning national champions. The team advanced to the title series, but were swept by Pikeville (Ky.) College and denied a second straight championship and ninth overall.