FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2014

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

Shocker Sweep at QubicaAMF World Cup

WICHITA, Kan. – It was a Shocker Sweep at the Qubica AMF World Cup as former Shockers Chris Barnes (’89-’92) and Clara Guerrero (’03-’06) were crowned World Champions Sunday morning in Wroclaw, Poland.

The competition began with all competitors bowling 20 games. The field was then cut to the top 24 for another eight games, then another cut to the top eight. The top eight bowled eight games of round robin match play, then the top three bowled in the stepladder finals. The stepladder finals started with the two and three seeds bowling a best two out of three match and the winner moving on to face the number one seed in a best two out of three match.

Shocker Bowling was represented at the World Cup by seven athletes: Mariana Ayala (’06-’10, Puerto Rico), Chris Barnes (’89-’92, USA), Isi Eskenazi (’07-’11, Mexico), Sandra Gongora (’06-’10, Mexico), Clara Guerrero (’03-’06, Colombia), current junior Dasha Kovalova (Ukraine) and defending World Cup Champion Caroline Lagrange (’03-’06, Canada).

All five Shocker ladies dominated the leaderboard, as all five made the first cut with Clara Guerrero leading the pack in third place (220 average) and the rest in the top 20.

The next cut was quite interesting, as Sandra Gongora and Dasha Kovalova tied for the last spot. After reviewing the rules, it was decided a one game roll-off would determine who would make the cut to round-robin match play. Kovalova came out strong, starting with a double, two spares, and then five strikes in a row for a 246. Gongora bowled a clean 214.

Guerrero and Lagrange also made the top eight. Langrange entered the day in 13th and average 227 for eight games to catapult her into 6th.

Guerrero won six matches in the round-robin portion to earn the top seed for the stepladder finals. Clara’s opponent was Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane. It was a high scoring match for the ladies as Clara took game one 239-234. Li Jane came back with a 257 to win game two as Guerrero bowled 243. It came down to the final game, which didn't prove to be too exciting as Clara strung strikes for a 265-211 match win and her first World Cup victory.

“What an amazing day and a great week. I am so happy for winning such a prestigious tournament. I am now finally realizing that I am the AMF World Cup champion. What a dream!!!!! I just want to thank my Federacion Colombiana de Bowling, the Colombian Olympic Committee, Indeportes Quindio, Columbia 300, and Turbo Grips for their unconditional support through my bowling career,” Guerrero said on FaceBook.

Barnes had a different road. He averaged 232 for the initial 20 games, which put him in third place. Chris easily made the next cut. After seven of the eight games of round-robin, Barnes found himself in a must win situation in order to keep his World Cup dreams alive. The PBA Tour veteran posted a 257 game to win the bonus pins and secure him as the number three seed for the stepladder finals.

In the first match, Barnes bowled the Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kalika. It was an exciting match as Barnes won the first game 215-205 and then put on a show by throwing 12 strikes for a perfect 300 game.

The men’s championship match started out with lots of strikes between Barnes and Germany’s Tobias Bording, with Barnes winning 265-248. The second game came down to the tenth frame. Barnes needed a double and five pins to shut out Bording and take home the cup. He got the first one, and then a late falling eight pin gave him a double. He got eight on his fill ball to win the match and the tournament, 231-216.

Shocker Bowling saw five athletes in the top ten at the World Cup. Joining Barnes and Guerrero in the top ten were Caroline Lagrange (seventh), Dasha Kovalova (eighth) and Sandra Gongora (ninth). Mariana Ayala finished 16th while Isi Eskenazi finished 27th.

“These titles cap two unbelievable careers, aside from being inducted into the Hall of Fame, there isn't much Clara and Chris haven't done. PBA telecasts, PBA tour titles, international medals, collegiate All-Americans, the list goes on and on for these two,” assistant coach Mark Lewis said. “We’re proud to see so many of these players who left home to go to college at WSU far away from their home country with the hope of improving their games and someday representing their nations in a prestigious event like the World Cup succeed.”

For more information on the World Cup, visit their website: http://www.qubicaamf.com/world-cup/wroclaw-poland-2014.aspx.


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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.