Women’s Bowling Seeded 22nd After Two Days at the Star-Studded Northeast Classic

Photo of junior Rachel Hirst who has led the Wildcats at the Northeast Classic. Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Tim Shaffer.
Photo of junior Rachel Hirst who has led the Wildcats at the Northeast Classic. Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Tim Shaffer.

CROYDON, Pa. - - Playing in a star-studded field in its first tournament of the 2020 season, the Wilmington University bowling team is seeded 22nd going into Bracket Play on Sunday after two days at the Northeast Classic hosted by Long Island and Sacred Heart.

Squaring up against eight nationally ranked teams out of the 10 matches played so far, the Wildcats have gone 3-7, including a win over 15th ranked Maryville today in Traditional play. The team squared off against the top ranked team, No. 2, No. 8, No. 9, No. 11, No. 15, No. 18, and No. 20 ranked teams this weekend.

Of Friday, the team collected a team best 908 Baker score in a win over Medaille. They also closed the day with an 861-841 victory over Kutztown. They put their second-best total of the day in a 974-894 loss to No. 2 Sam Houston State.

On Saturday, the team lost a close traditional match to No. 1 McKendree, 877-846, but bounced right back with an 861-842 victory over No. 15 Maryville. They had their best match of the day against No. 9 Youngstown State, but the Penguins came away with the win, 935-927.

Individually, the Wildcats were led by junior Rachel Hirst who placed 49th out of 172 bowlers on Saturday. She totaled a 901 in five matches, good enough for a 180.20 average. Her best match came against No. 9 Youngstown State, bowling a 198. She also bowled a 197 against No. 8 Stephen F. Austin.

Junior Bailey Peters averaged a 174.60 over five matches, placing 59th overall. Her 873 total came at the hands of a pair of 189's on the day, first to No. 1 McKendree, and again against No, 9 Youngstown State.

Freshman CC Riojas finished two spots behind Peters in 61st place, bowling an 868 for a 173.60 average. She bowled a day's high 189 in the win over No. 15 Maryville.

Freshman KC Miller bowled an 820 on the afternoon, finishing with a 164 average. She closed the day out with her best match, bowling a 179 against No. 8 Stephen F. Austin.

Junior Malia Stout finished right behind Miller in 76th place, bowling an 814 in five matches for a 162.80 average. She had the best score of the day for the Wildcats with a 199 in the win over No. 15 Maryville, while also bowling a 193 against No. 9 Youngstown State.

Vanderbilt's Maria Bulanova earned MVP honors with a 1,079 total pin-fall, bowling a 215.80 average on the day. All five games were over 200, with a day's best 224 in her final match.

The top team in the country McKendree leads the star-studded tournament, and heads into Bracket Play at the No. 1 seed. They knocked down 9,776 pins in two days for a 195.5 team average.

The Wildcats will open Bracket play against Tusculum on Sunday, after knocking down 8,598 pins in two days for a 172 average. The Wildcats have a chance to finish as best as 19th in the tournament.