FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2014

CONTACT:
Gordon Vadakin
Phone (316) 978-7655
Fax (316) 978-6056
email - shocker.bowling@wichita.edu
www.wichita.edu/bowling

Shocker Women Successfully Defend MidStates Title

WICHITA, Kan. – The 2014-2015 bowling season is officially underway for Wichita State as they competed in the MidStates Championships in Wichita, Kan. over the weekend. This year was the 55th edition of the tournament, which is currently the longest running tournament in college bowling history.

At the Mid-States tournament, the men bowled at Northrock Lanes while the women bowled at The Alley. This is the second time that the men and women have been separated due to the increased number of participating teams. Saturday consisted of six traditional team games. On Sunday, all teams returned for an additional three traditional team games followed by 16 baker games. The tournament winners were based on total pinfall.

Over on the women’s side, the varsity women beat Midland University comfortably, by 206 pins.

“We bowled our best and we were playing as one. The main thing is that we had a lot of fun,” junior Dasha Kovalova (Moscow, Russia) said.

In the JV division, the Lady Shox were leading entering the position round but fell behind Lindenwood JV A by 20 pins. The ladies strung strikes together to bowl their highest game of the day, a 247, which surpassed Lindenwood’s JV A when they shot 180.

Sophomore Laura Plazas (Bogotá, Colombia) made the women’s All-Tournament Team averaging 201 for nine games. Junior Catherine Prather (Milton, Fla.) and freshman Line Berg Almestrand (Hønefess, Norway) averaged 191 for nine games and placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

The All-Tournament team is based on total pinfall after nine games.

Other outstanding performances included Kovalova’s 206 average for eight games. Transfer Kristie López (Ponce, Puerto Rico) averaged 198 for seven games and sophomore Chenoa Rhoades (Lafayette, Ind.) averaged 195 for eight games.

The varsity men finished in second place behind McKendree University by a mere 35 pins. After nine team games, the men were in second with 9989 while leaders McKendree had 10224 pins. The Shockers managed to narrow McKendree’s lead making up nearly 200 pins. However, they came up a bit short.

Junior AJ Chapman (Manchester, Iowa) and senior Francois Lavoie (Québec, Canada) made the men’s All-Tournament Team when they averaged 220 and 215 respectively. Transfer Tyler Cruz (Tacoma, Wash.) finished in the top ten, averaging 204.

Notable men’s performances included Transfer Dylan Woods (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) averaged 210 for six games; freshman Alex Lankford (Moon Township, Pa.) and sophomore Brandon Martin (Derby, Kan.) averaged 202 for six games.

Next up is the Sandhills Classic, hosted by Midland University. The Shox travel to Lincoln, Neb. this weekend, October 18 and 19, to compete.

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The Rhatigan Student Center has been the major financial and administrative supporter of the Wichita State University bowling program since 1959.