Youngstown State University
DezyStrong Classic
Penguins Finish 12-1, Place Second at DezyStrong Classic
10/30/2022 4:57:00 PM | Bowling
Coram, N.Y. – The Youngstown State bowling team won two more matches to set a school record for victories at a single tournament, and it finished as the runners-up at the 2022 DezyStrong Classic. The tournament was hosted by Adelphi at Coram Country Lanes.
Seeded second in the best-of-seven Baker bracket, Youngstown State topped No. 8 Louisiana Tech 4-2 in the opening round of the day to earn a bye into the championship match. In a rematch, YSU and the Lady Techsters were deadlocked through six games, and an untimely pocket 7-10 split in the ninth frame proved to be the difference in the championship.
Youngstown State went 12-1 overall in head-to-head matches at the tournament, which is a new school record for wins at a single tournament. The Penguins also had their second consecutive runner-up finish at a tournament to begin the 2022-23 season.
"I'm very proud of how we competed all weekend," said Penguins coach Doug Kuberski. "We maintained a solid focus on our process and channeled positive, powerful energy for each other. We also enjoyed our time together in New York both on and off the lanes. I'm excited for us to get back after it on Tuesday after a much-needed day of rest."
YSU and Louisiana Tech were the top two qualifiers, and the Southland Bowling League members battled it out twice in bracket play. In the opening match of the morning to decide who earned the bye into the title round, the Lady Techsters won the first two games 203-171 and 244-182. The Penguins won the next four games by an average of 42 pins to earn a spot in the championship match for the second straight tournament.
YSU averaged 205 in its sweep of St. Anslem, and Louisiana Tech topped Vanderbilt in six games to set up a rematch from the morning.
Youngstown State had a clean 225 in game one to win by 32 pins, and the Penguins were in good position to take a 2-0 lead in the match before splits in the eighth and ninth frames opened the door for the Lady Techsters. Louisiana Tech threw the final four strikes to squeak out a 172-168 win in game two, and YSU responded to take game three 174-156 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
YSU had just four strikes over the next two matches as Louisiana Tech won 189-157 and 208-156, but the Penguins found their spot in game six and struck eight times in a 220-201 win to force a seventh game to decide the championship.
In game seven, the Penguins were clean through eight frames and were riding a double into the ninth. Madyson Marx hit the pocket but left a 7-10 split, and Jade Cote threw a turkey in the 10th but was locked out after Louisiana Tech's anchor struck. The Lady Techsters won the finale 227-222.
Youngstown State will be off next weekend and will be back in action at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 11-13.
