Detroit, Mich. — The best season in the history of the Youngstown State bowling program came to an end in the semifinals of the National Championship event on Saturday at Thunderbowl Lanes.
The Penguins finished third overall at the national tournament, which is their best finish in program history. This was YSU's second trip to the Final Four in the last four seasons, and it advanced to championship Saturday at the event for the first time.
The champions of the Lansing Regional last week, Youngstown State went 1-2 at the Final Four this weekend. YSU, the third overall seed, dropped its opening match 2-0 on Friday to No. 2 Arkansas State, but the Penguins fought off elimination on Friday evening by beating Sam Houston 2-1.
That set up a rematch with Arkansas State on Saturday morning, which the Red Wolves won 2-0.
Youngstown State finished the season with an overall record of 80-36, 10 top-four finishes at tournaments, a horde of individual awards by student-athletes, and a National Coach of the Year Award for Head Coach Doug Kuberski as the program took another step toward sustained prominence. Arkansas State moves on to face No. 1 Jacksonville State for the national title on Saturday.
Arkansas State got off to a tough start on Saturday morning, and Youngstown State started strongly to build a lead of nearly 70 pins in the traditional point.
The match flipped as the Red Wolves started stringing strikes together in the sixth frame, and four Penguins opened in the eighth frame. Arkansas State increased the margin once the round was already decided and won the point 964-851.
Madison Doseck led the Penguins with a 211 game from the leadoff spot in the lineup, and Jade Cote had the second-highest score with a 180 in the anchor position. The Red Wolves had a 93-pin advantage from the second slot.
Arkansas State then started the Baker pinfall round with games of 236 and 268 to take an 81-pin lead, and the Red Wolves added 56 to the lead in game three. Youngstown State fired a 243 in game two, and it added games of 205 and 212 to finish the tournament by breaking 1,000 for the set. Arkansas State won the point 1,112-1,002.
The event was the final one for fifth-year senior Megan Grams, who finished her career with 368 victories, four NCAA Tournament appearances, and two trips to the Final Four. Grams is the lone member of the program who is out of eligibility for the 2024-25 season.
Match Result
Traditional - L: 964-851
Baker - L: 1,112-1,002
Lineup: Marx, Grams, Moore, Doseck, Cote
- Game 1: 180-236
- Game 2: 243-268
- Game 3: 162-218
- Game 4: 205-199
- Game 5: 212-191
