WOODBRIDGE, Va. - - Bowling in one of the most competitive tournaments in the country, the Wilmington University bowling team finished 18^th overall at the 2023 Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland Eastern Shore and Monmouth at the Bowl America.

Of the 22 teams in attendance, 19 were mentioned in the National Tenpin Coach Association (NTCA) Preseason National Poll, with five of the top 10 teams in the country competing. In the bracket round, the Wildcats defeated Monmouth, who was receiving votes in the National Poll, before falling to No. 25 Morgan State to finish 18^th overall.

The Wildcats went 3-10 overall in head-to-head matches, going 1-4 in Baker matches on Friday, 1-5 in Traditional matches on Saturday and Sunday, and 1-1 in bracket play. They defeated Monmouth in Baker play Friday and then beat No. 12 Maryland Eastern Shore, 1,049-1,012, on Saturday in Traditional play.

Individually, the Wildcats were led by Eleni Feggulis who placed 54^th overall with a six-match total of 1,219 for a 203.17 game average. She had a weekend's best 234 against No. 24 Merrimack, but also bowled a 233 against No. 4 North Carolina A&T.

Logan Brown finished 17 pins shy of Feggulis in 57^th place, totaling 1,202 pins for a 200.33 six-match average. She had four games of 200 or more, including a weekend's best 243 in the win against No. 12 UMES. She also bowled a 224 against No. 18 Mount St. Mary's, a 204 against Merrimack, and a 200 against No. 11 Duquesne.

Freshman Miranda Dudas had the best individual match of the weekend for the Wildcats, bowling a 244 against No. 4 North Carolina A&T. She finished with a six-match total pinfall of 1,151 for a 191.83 average, placing 72^nd overall. She also bowled a 225 against Merrimack and a 212 against UMES.

Sydney Jones was eight-pins shy of Dudas with a total pinfall of 1,143, coming in 75^th overall with a 190.50 average. She led the team in the Sunday match against No. 23 Delaware State, bowling a 244. She also had a 215 against UMES to aide in the victory.

KC Miller finished 83^rd out of 137 bowlers, putting down 1,033 pins for a 172.17 average. She had a day's best 197 against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, as well as a 193 against UMES to help the team to a win.

On Sunday, the Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Monmouth, bowling a 234 in the first game. They won game four to take a 3-1 lead and then finished off the Hawks with a 235-197 game six to win, 4-2. Morgan State then beat the Wildcats, 4-0, to drop Wilmington to 18^th overall.

Seventh ranked Jacksonville State defeated No. 6 Youngstown State, 4-2, to claim the 2023 Hawk Invite. No. 1 Vanderbilt was third followed by No. 10 Louisiana Tech. Duquesne's Maribeth Baker and Merrimack's Cassidy Anschutz tied atop the individual standings with a 1,398 total pinfall, a 233.00 average.

The Wildcats are finished tournament play until the New Year, as they return to action on January 19 with hosting the three day Northeast Classic at Bowlerama.