FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2017

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

WICHITA, Kan. –The first half of the Shocker Bowlers’ season ended over the holiday break and there were sweeps all around.

Las Vegas was the host of two Tier I tournaments over the break. The first was the Las Vegas Invitational and the Collegiate Shootout followed.

Shockers swept the Las Vegas Invitational as the men won the event for the first time in six years. The women won the event for the sixth time in seven years.

The Lady Shocks led after qualifying and were the No. 1 seed for the Baker, match play bracket. They beat Marian University 3-0 (184-177, 160-150 & 190-183) in round one and Baker University in the semi-finals, 3-1 (204-194, 204-164, 176-204 & 238-157). In the finals, the Shocks bowled Webber International and it went the full five games with the Shocks coming out on top, 3-2 (192-220, 166-145, 177-300, 183-143 & 200-180).

Shocker Men qualified third and took on Marian in the first round, winning the match 3-0 (221-193, 225-216 & 211-187). In the quarter finals the men took on Arizona State and won 3-1 (165-233, 198-157, 242-199 & 227-166). Another 3-1 victory over Webber International (234-210, 224-190, 192-212 & 265-223) propelled them into the finals against Urbana University. It was a quick final match as the men swept Urbana 3-0 (264-204, 209-138 & 248-171).

It was a Shocker sweep in the individual portion as well, as sophomore Wesley Low (Palmdale, Calif.) and senior Kristie López (Ponce, Puerto Rico) won the tournament and were named All-Tournament MVPs. Wichita natives, junior Hollyann Johansen and senior Ashlyn Herzberg, joined López on the All-Tournament team, finishing second and fifth, respectively.

The Collegiate Shootout featured the unique Barnhart format, where each traditional game or four-game Baker block is a match against three other teams in a four lane grouping. For each team beaten, 80 pins were awarded to the winner.

For the third year in a row, the Lady Shocks went undefeated and won the tournament with ease. The Lady Shocks dominated from the first game all the way to the end of the tournament.

It was a completely different story on the men’s side. Going into the last Baker block, the men were in the hunt for the title along with Urbana University, Webber International and Calumet College. The men bowled a solid 966 for four games, unfortunately only winning 80 bonus pins and falling into third place.

Individually, Canadian senior Mitch Hupé won the tournament and was named All-Tournament MVP. Senior Laura Plazas (Bogotá, Colombia) finished fourth and was named to the All-Tournament team as well.

Three tournaments in the next four weekends will finish up the regular season for the Wichita State Shockers. The Shocks head to Addison, Ill. this weekend to compete in yet another Tier I, the ISBPA/Kegel Midwest Collegiate Shootout. After a weekend off, they will compete in the McKendree Baker Challenge followed by the final regular season event, the Hoosier Classic.

Should the Shocks stay in the top 64 in collegiate power points, they will qualify for the ITC Sectional tournament in early March. Currently the Shocks are ranked sixth and the women are ranked third. Placing in the top four at sectionals would advance them to the National Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. in late April.

Power point standings can be found on collegebowling.com. Follow the Shocks on social media (@shockerbowling) to stay up to date with tournament information.

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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.