DEPTFORD, N.J. - - Coming into the 2023 portion of its season, the Wilmington University bowling team started against the best of the best in NCAA Collegiate Bowling at the Northeast Classic, going 3-2 overall and sit in 19th out of 33 teams after Baker matches Friday.
The tournament is the biggest in the country this season and features 22 of the Top 25 nationally ranked teams as of the most recent NTCA National Poll. On Friday, the Wildcats face three nationally ranked teams and one who received votes in the National Poll. The Wildcats are one of the teams at the tournament who was mentions in the National Poll, receiving votes in December.
The afternoon started with back-to-back Baker matches against nationally ranked teams, falling to #15 Mount St. Mary's, 914-888, and to #14 Fairleigh Dickinson, 977-907, in tightly contest matches. The Wildcats lost to FDU in the NCAA Regionals last season as well.
The Wildcats picked things up against Wagner, beating the Seahawks, 977-906, and then defeated Monmouth, 906-843, who is also receiving votes in the National Poll.
Trailing by 91 pins after three frames, the Wildcats fought back against #10 Maryland Eastern Shore, winning the final match of the day, 945-933.
The Wildcats went 3-2 overall with a total pinfall of 4,632. They are 19th overall out of the 33 teams at the tournament with a 185.3 game average.
Nationally 3rd ranked Vanderbilt leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 5,333, 191 pins ahead of defending national champion and top ranked McKendree. No. 7 Youngstown State is third with a 5.099 total pinfall.
The Wildcats will have five Traditional matches on Saturday. All five matches are against nationally ranked opponents. The Wildcats will face #13 Delaware State, #21 Sacred Heart, #2 North Carolina A&T, #24 Morgan State, and #25 Merrimack.