Underwood Nationals-Bound with Runner-Up Finish at Sectionals

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Fairview Heights, Ill.–Breanne Underwood (Grad., Treynor, Iowa, Master’s of Business Leadership) extended her individual career for the biggest event of the season as she qualified for nationals at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Sectionals Friday.

Underwood placed second out of 115 bowlers with 1,303 pins in six games. Her high score of 245 in the sixth game allowed her to jump into the top four–the only qualifiers for nationals from Fairview Heights.

Morgan O’Brien of Clarke won the event with 1,319 pins. Underwood, O’Brien, and the two other qualifiers will face off with an additional 12 rollers in a field of 16 at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships on April 16 and 20 in Lincoln.

Kirstin Newberry (Jr., Holland, Mich., Secondary Education) did not qualify, but was a top-ten finisher (10th) with 1,211 pins.

Jessica Ganem (Sr., Austin, Texas, Psychology) knocked down 1,119 pins, while L’Neisha Porter (Fr., Chicago, Ill., General Accounting) posted 1,053 pins.

Kelsey Johnson (So., Montgomery, Ill., Secondary Education) and Samantha Powell (Sr., Herriman, Utah, Psychology/Human Services) both finished with 1,049 pins, while Emily Braga (Fr., Newton, Iowa, Communications) had 1,039 pins and Abigayle Wempen (Sr., Titonka, Iowa, Public Accounting) managed 983 pins.

Next: William Penn will compete for the NAIA title later this month as it travels to Indianapolis, Ind. for the NAIA Invitational from March 22-24.