Lincoln Memorial Sweeps Inaugural Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Men’s and Women’s Bowling Championships
MEN’S BRACKET | WOMEN’S BRACKET
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE | WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
GASTONIA, N.C. – The top-seeded men’s and women’s bowling teams from Lincoln Memorial won the inaugural Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Men’s and Women’s Bowling Championships at Liberty Lanes in Gastonia, North Carolina on Sunday.
The Railsplitters women defeated No. 5 seed Kentucky Wesleyan 2-0 in the mega-match format while the men earned a 2-1 victory over No. 2 seed Emmanuel.
In the women’s championship, Lincoln Memorial got a near-perfect game from Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year Lorrie Decker en route to a 1,144-971 win in the traditional, five-player pinfall match to take a 1-0 lead in the mega-match.
In the baker total pinfall, the Railsplitters jumped out to a 47-pin advantage with a 209-162 win in game one, but Kentucky Wesleyan cut the deficit to 11 with a 186-150 win in game two. The lead shrunk to seven after a 167-163 score in favor of KWC in game three, but the momentum shifted in game four. LMU posted a 275 in the fourth game to the Panthers’ 178 to take a 104-pin lead with one game to play. The top-seeded program from Harrogate, Tennessee sealed the win with a 196-178 tally in the final game for a 993-871 win to take home the inaugural championship.
Following the match, the seven-player all-tournament team was announced led by Most Outstanding Player Lorrie Decker of LMU. Cassidy Anschutz and Jordyn Stewart joined Decker from the Railsplitters. Corrine Bean and Alyssa Zombirt represented Kentucky Wesleyan, Arianna Campbell represented Emmanuel and Alexa Tieto of Tusculum rounded out the all-tournament team.
In the men’s championship, Emmanuel had three individuals post games of 225 or better to take the first point of the mega-match with a 1,065-936 traditional win. In the baker total pinfall game Lincoln Memorial averaged 217.4 pins over the five games while the Lions averaged 182.8 as the Railsplitters earned the point to even the match with a score of 1,087-914.
In the baker match play, Emmanuel captured the first two games, 224-196 and 208-196, for the early lead, but the Railsplitters took the next two, 208-179 and 223-210, to even the score. The Lions made a late run in game five, but LMU won 175-162 and completed the comeback with a 209-185 win in game six to seal the championship victory.
After the match, the seven-player all-tournament team was recognized led by Most Outstanding Player Ian Friesner of Lincoln Memorial. He was joined by a pair of teammates in Zachary Cook and Alex Linnenbrink. Emmanuel had two student-athletes honored in David Hooper, Jr. and Tristin Davis while Hunter Hawley represented Belmont Abbey and Seth Koloski represented Kentucky Wesleyan.
As the top Conference Carolinas finisher in both events, Lincoln Memorial was also named the Conference Carolinas Men’s and Women’s Bowling Champions.