FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2016

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

End of Regular Season: Competing in the Hoosier Classic marks the end of the regular season for the Shox.

Indy Bound: With a bus full of Shockers, Newman Jets and Baker Wildcats, Wichita State heads to Indianapolis on Friday, February 19th. They will compete on Saturday and Sunday, February 20th and 21st at Western Bowl.

Three in a row? Winning the event in 2014 and 2015, the Lady Shox look to take home their third consecutive title at the Hoosier Classic this weekend. The men have struggled recently, finishing 17th and 9th the last two years.

Schedule: Since the Hoosier Classic is the largest event of the season, it is split into two squads. The men bowl six games beginning Saturday morning at 7:15 a.m. EST. They return on Sunday to bowl three more team games at 7:15 a.m. The field is then cut to the top 12 teams; the single elimination, Baker, best-two-of-three bracket begins at 12:15 p.m. The ladies begin competition at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday with six team games. They bowl their final three team games at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Once the field is cut to the top eight women’s teams, their best-two-of-three, Baker, single elimination bracket begins at 4:00 p.m.

Keeping Up With the Shox: Follow the Shockers scores on their Facebook (/shockerbowling) and Twitter (@shockerbowling) for periodic score updates when they are available! BowlTV is also live streaming the event at youtube.com/bowltv.

Hoosier Bound Shockers: Lone senior Dasha Kovalova will bowl in her last regular season event with juniors Ashlyn Herzberg, Laura Plazas, Kristie López and sophomores Sydney Brummett, Hollyann Johansen and Sierra Kanemoto for the Hoosier. Seniors AJ Chapman, Stephen Cowland, Tyler Cruz and Zach Rhoades are joined by juniors Justin Zwaschka and Mitch Hupé and freshmen Brandon Biondo and Wesley Low.

Lady Shox Remain Number 1: After the McKendree Baker Challenge, the ladies remain number one in power ranking points. The men hold on to fifth.

What’s Next? Sunday night marks the end of the regular season. Sectional assignments will be made on Wednesday, February 24th by 3:00 p.m. The Shockers will travel to their assigned sectional March 10th. Intercollegiate Singles Championships qualifier is on Friday March 11th. The Intercollegiate Team Championships Sectional qualifier begins on Saturday March 9th. The Shockers will look to be one of the top four teams and advance to the Intercollegiate Team Championships in April, right here in Wichita.

Shocker Speak: Junior Laura Plazas and Junior Justin Zwaschka
There has been quite a long break between tournaments, how did you guys use that time?

  • LP: The girls have been sharpening our tools and trying to learn more about each other and each other’s games. We have been bowling a lot of little competitions in practice as well.
  • JZ: We have used the long break to really get sharp physically. Almost a month between tournaments can make a real difference in someone’s physical game. When one of us gets better, the whole team gets better.

What’s your favorite tournament to compete in?

  • LP: My favorite tournaments are the Las Vegas tournaments. It’s a different environment that what we are used to and we get to spend a lot of time together.
  • JZ: Oher than nationals, my favorite tournament is the McKendree Baker Challenge. The Baker format is really fun and always proves to be exciting.

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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.