NEW CASTLE, Del. - - For its first tournament of the 2024 calendar year, the Wilmington University bowling team faced a fierce field at the Northeast Classic, including competing against the top three nationally ranked teams, placing 25^th overall at Bowlerama.

The field of 34 teams was littered with the country's top teams, including four of the Top 5 and eight of the Top 10 programs in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) National Poll.

On Friday, the Wildcats bowled against four nationally ranked teams, going 1-4 overall in Baker matches. They finished 26^th overall with a total pinfall of 4,369, collecting a 174.8 game average. The Wildcats dropped matches to nationally ranked No. 9 Stephen F. Austin, 1,068-887, #11 Sam Houston State, 1,042-885, No. 2 Vanderbilt, 1,174-932, and No. 3 Youngstown State, 1,093-862, but defeated Mount Aloysius, 804-730, to finish the day 1-4 overall. North Carolina A&T led the tournament after the Baker matches, putting down 5,457 pins in the five matches, good enough for a 218.3 average.

The tournament moved over to Traditional play on Saturday, and the Wildcats faced four more nationally ranked teams, going 2-3 overall. They dropped matches to No. 21 McKendree, 951-885, and No. 1 Jacksonville State, 952-937, before topping No. 20 Oklahoma Christian, 913-906. The Wildcats fell to No. 7 Nebraska, 1,156-839, but then ended the day with a win over the University of Alabama Birmingham, 991-903, to remain in 26^th place overall.

Individually, the Wildcats were led by Logan Brown's 1,004 five-match total, coming in 45^th overall. She had a team-high 237 against No. 1 Jacksonville State and added a 207 in the final match of the day, finishing with a 200.80 average.

Sydney Jones had three 200+ matches on Saturday, finishing in 57^th overall with a 195.60 average. She had a 214 against No. 20 Oklahoma Christian, a 209 against UAB, and a 206 against No. 1 Jacksonville State. She bowled a 978 five-match total.

Freshman Miranda Dudas was the final Wildcat to bowl all five matches on Saturday, placing 108^th overall with a 171.60 average. She finished with an 858 five-match total, and had a day's high 177 twice, first against No. 21 McKendree and again against No. 20 Oklahoma Christian.

Genna Closs bowled in four matches and collected a total pinfall of 696 for a 174.00 average. She had a day's best 195 in the final match of the day against UAB. Eleni Feggulis bowled three matches and collected a 553 total, bowling an 184.33 average, capped by a 218 against AUB. KC Miller also bowled in three matches, coming away with a 476 total for a 158.67 average. She had a day's best 167 against No. 21 McKendree.

Youngstown State's Jade Cote earned MVP honors on Saturday with a 1,202 five-match total, bowling a 240.40 average. She had a near-perfect game, missing the final pin on her final roll for a 299 in her third match of the day.

On Sunday, the Wildcats came out and battled Wagner in bracket play, winning 4-2 to advance up the ladder. Anchor bowler Logan Brown secured the victory in game six on her final roll for the Wildcats to win 192-190. The Wildcats then faced St. Francis (Pa.) and jumped out in front, 1-0, but then needed a 190-180 win in game four to tie it, 2-2. But the Red Flash won the final two games to take the match, 4-2. The Wildcats faced Wagner once again, this time for 25^th place. After the two teams tied the first game, 185-185, the Wildcats rattled off four straight Baker wins, including a day's best 233 in game two, to win 4.5-0.5, and take 25^th place.

Jacksonville State, the No. 1 team in the country, defeated North Carolina A&T, 4-2, in the championship match to win the Northeast Classic.

The Wildcats are back in action next weekend at the New Jersey Open. The three-day tournament will be hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson at the 30 Strikes Lane in Stratford, New Jersey.

45 – Logan Brown – 199-237-183-178-207 – 1004 – 200.80 avg
57 – Sydney Jones – 194-206-214-155-209 – 978 – 195.60 avg
108 – Miranda Dudas – 177-171-177-171-162 – 858 – 171.60 avg
144 – Genna Closs – 0-171-182-148-195 – 696 – 174.00 avg
161 – Eleni Feggulis – 148-0-0-187-218 – 553 – 184.33 avg
169 – KC Miller – 167-152-157-0-0 – 476 – 158.67 avg