Youngstown State University
Big Red Invitational
Bowling Sets Another Record, Finishes Strong at Big Red Invitational
2/28/2021 12:00:00 AM | Bowling
The Youngstown State bowling team had its highest-scoring traditional match in program history and had three individuals place in the top 16 as play concluded at the Big Red Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosted the three-day tournament at Hollywood Bowl.
The No. 8 Penguins finished the tournament with an impressive 1,170 total in a traditional match against No. 11 Lincoln Memorial, which broke the school record for highest match total of 1,145 that was set on Friday. YSU's previous record for traditional play was 1,138.
The school-record total helped the Penguins climb back into fifth place in the final standings after they had dropped to sixth earlier on Sunday. Youngstown State finished the tournament ahead of No. 9 Maryville, No. 11 LMU, No. 22 Central Missouri, No. 19 Valparaiso, Upper Iowa and Quincy. The only teams finishing higher than the Penguins were the top four teams in the country – No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 1 McKendree, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 2 Vanderbilt.
"I'm proud of how we channeled positive and powerful energy all weekend and played our game," said YSU head coach Doug Kuberski. "I loved the fire and aggressiveness we showed the last two matches. We will enjoy a day off tomorrow and get right back to work with our focus on continuing to elevate."
The Penguins began the day with a 916 in an uncontested match, which dropped them down to sixth place behind Maryville. YSU then posted a 1,073 in a 109-pin victory over Central Missouri, and the school-record effort against LMU resulted in a 172-pin win. Youngstown State punctuated the strong weekend by throwing 13 out of a possible 15 strikes in the 10th frame against the Railsplitters.
Emma Wrenn was the top individual finisher for the Penguins with an eight-game set of 1,736 for an average of 217.00. Wrenn was one of three players in the entire field who bowled at least 201 in all eight of her matches. Madyson Marx was one pin behind her with a 1,735, and her set was highlighted by a 262 in the final match against LMU. That was the fourth-highest single game in program history. Emma Dockery bowled a 243 and 273, the second-best game in school history, over her final two games to surge up the standings and finish with a 1,695.
Kirsten Moore totaled 1,474 over seven games to average 210.57 and place 39th, and Sarah Florence tied Moore in total pins over eight games. Megan Grams bowled a 171 in her only game.
Youngstown State has one tournament remaining on its schedule before the Southland Bowling League Championships. The Penguins will compete at the Mid-Winter Invitational on March 12-14 in Jonesboro, Ark., and the SBL tournament will be the following weekend.
