FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2015

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

WICHITA, Kan. – There have been quite a few close calls this season, but the Shocker men’s team finally got their first win of the season over the weekend. It was a clean sweep as the women won as well. The Shox traveled to Fairview Heights, Ill. to compete in the National Team Match Games, hosted by McKendree University. This is the first Tier One event the Shockers have competed in.

National Team Match Games featured the Barnhart format. In this format each team bowls against three opponents each game (the team on their pair and the two teams on an adjacent pair). The team finishing with the highest total, between the four teams, receives 150 bonus pins, the second place team receives 100 bonus pins and the third receives 50. The last place team does not receive any bonus pins. The teams bowled six traditional games on Saturday and five, four game baker sets on Sunday.

The Shocker men began the day with a solid start, shooting 1051 and taking the lead. They never really looked back as they won almost every bonus pin they could. With a low game of 1051 and a high game of 1262, the men averaged 1105 for their six games. 1262 in game four was the highlight of the day. Junior Justin Zwaschka (St. Joe, Mo.) kicked things off with a 289. He had the first 10 strikes before a 10-pin ended his run at perfection. Not too far behind him was senior Tyler Cruz (Tacoma, Wash.) and sophomore Thomas Peters (Belleville, Ill.); Cruz shot 268 and Peters shot 267. Freshman Brandon Biondo (Carpentersville, Ill.) picked up the big-four on his way to 214 and senior AJ Chapman (Manchester, Iowa) added 224. The Shocker men didn't quite reach the record books, but it was a great game nonetheless.

Sunday was much of the same as the men had consistent Baker sets and won all of the bonus. Their Baker game average was 211, the highest in the tournament by quite a few pins. 444 pins was the final margin of victory over host McKendree University.

“We were successful this weekend because we were much sharper with our moves. It was definitely a key to our success,” said freshman Wesley Low (Palmdale, Calif.). “This was an exciting win. I’ve bowled a couple team events before, but never something like this. These guys are closer and really play team; it’s fun to be around and even more fun to win with these guys.”

The Lady Shox used steady games hovering around 1000 each game to climb their way up the ladder day one. 1021 was their average for the day and by the end, they found themselves in first place, by a little over 100 pins.

Baker games were a different story as the women started strong and took off, firing the highest Baker total in the tournament by 200 pins. Not to be outdone by the men, the ladies finished 501 pins ahead of McKendree University to win the tournament.

“Over the last few weeks we have been searching for that fire we have as a team and we definitely found it this weekend. We started being more aggressive and that’s what helped us the most this weekend,” said sophomore Hollyann Johansen (Wichita, Kan.). “Winning the event gave us a nice wave to ride heading into finals week and the two big tournaments in Las Vegas!”

Senior Dasha Kovalova (Moscow, Russia) finished second place individually, earning a place on the All-Tournament team. Highlighted with a 276 game four, Kovalova averaged 225 for six games. Chapman used a 237 average to lead the men’s division and earn All-Tournament Team honors. Biondo joined him as he averaged 223 and finished third.

Cruz and Zwaschka also had great showings, averaging 235 and 222 over four games, respectively. The sophomore trio of Sierra Kanemoto (Dayton, Ohio), Sydney Brummett (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Hollyann Johansen (Wichita, Kan.) all cracked the 200 average mark, as they averaged 203, 203 and 200 for two, six and four games, respectively.

Finals week is fast approaching as well as the end of the first semester. Wichita State will take their finals and then head to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in back-to-back Tier One events. South Point will host the Glen Carlson Las Vegas Invitational December 19 and 20; The Orleans will host the Collegiate Shootout December 21 and 22.

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