Statesmen Qualify for Match Play, Reach Semis at Season Opener
Wichita, Kan.–The William Penn women’s bowling team used exceptional Baker play to advance deep as it opened the season at the Mid-States Championship Saturday and Sunday.
WPU qualified in eighth place out of 25 teams with 8,863 pins in six regular games and 20 Baker rounds. Wichita State (Kan.) was the top qualifier with 9,473 pins, but it was third-seeded Oklahoma Christian that won the match play title.
The navy and gold struggled in regular action, but zoomed up the standings with 3,698 Baker pins, the third-highest pin total during those 20 games.
The Baker effort earned William Penn a berth in the eight-team match play event. The squad took full advantage of the opportunity, knocking off top-seeded Wichita State 3-0 in the quarterfinals, before bowing out to St. Ambrose 3-0 in the semis.
Juliana Botero of Wichita State was the top individual with a 206.2 average (1,237 pins).
Olivia Pilcher (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Exercise Science) headlined WPU’s work in individual play in her collegiate debut, finishing 25th (204 competitors) with a 180.3 average (1,085 pins). She was the lone Statesmen to compete in all six rounds.
Isabel Diaz (So., Kissimmee, Fla., Communications) also rolled well at 188.2 over five rounds.
Gabi Evans (Sr., West Liberty, Iowa, Psychology and Sociology) posted a 160.0 mark in four games, while Shaydn Bishop (Jr., Grandview, Iowa, Exercise Science) also eclipsed the 180 mark at 180.3 in three bouts.
Alexis Lake (Sr., Kaysville, Utah, Nursing) was next at 175.7 over three rounds, while Cydnee Whiteleather (Jr., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Elementary Education) (162.7), Caitlin Radliff (So., Belleville, Ill., Software Engineering) (162.3), and Kelcey Aczon (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Nursing) (152.0) also started three games each over the weekend.
“We exceeded expectations this weekend,” Head Coach Kirstin Foster said. “This was our first time competing at this tournament and it was a tough field, but our ladies kept battling and fought hard to make it to match play. We started slow, but once we made some adjustments, there was no looking back. I am excited to see what the rest of the season holds for us.”
Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Lawrence, Kan. on October 29-30 for the Jayhawk Collegiate Challenge.
