Youngstown State University
Columbia 300 Penguin Classic
Bowling Wins Columbia 300 Penguin Classic for Program's First Title
10/13/2019 12:00:00 AM | Bowling
The Youngstown State bowling team claimed its first tournament title in program history on Sunday by going 3-0 in bracket play to secure the top spot in the Columbia 300 Penguin Classic at Holiday Bowl in Struthers.
The Penguins were the highest-scoring team at the tournament all weekend, and they finished off their first championship by beating No. 6 Arkansas State twice on Sunday. YSU came back from a 2-0 deficit in its opening match of the day to beat the Red Wolves 4-3 in the best-of-seven Baker format. After a bye into the first championship round for the program in its fourth year of existence, the Penguins swept Arkansas State to punctuate the weekend.
"This group is special," YSU head coach Doug Kuberski said. "I had a feeling we could get a couple wins this year, and it was great to win our first one in front of family and friends."
"I think this team is dangerous. I think it's just the beginning. I'm proud of where we've started, and I think we still have some work to do. We're definitely not going to rest on our laurels. We're going to embrace the ride and see where it takes us."
In the championship match, Youngstown State struck in the fifth through ninth frames to counter a clean game for Arkansas State and win 227-208. A late four-bagger then carried the Penguins to a 210-195 win in the second game, and YSU held on to win the third match 196-193 to get within a game of the title. Youngstown State ended any doubt early by throwing the first six strikes of the game, and anchor Emma Dockery ended the championship by striking three times in the 10th frame for a 256. That tied for the third-highest Baker game in program history.
Youngstown State came into the day with an 0-6 all-time record against Arkansas State, a Southland Bowling League rival and a perennial power on the national level.
Behind Arkansas State at the inaugural Columbia 300 Penguin Classic, Lewis claimed third place and Saint Francis U was fourth. Those were the same spots that the teams held after the two days of qualifying. Kentucky Wesleyan won its final two bracket matches to move up to fifth, and Medaille, Belmont Abbey and Mercyhurst placed sixth through eighth.
Youngstown State will compete at the Mount Shootout on Oct. 19-20. The tournament will be hosted at Terrace Lanes in Fredrick, Md., by Mount St. Mary's.
