STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN —The Grand View University men's bowling team traveled to Sterling Heights, MI, early last week to compete in the NAIA National Bowling Championship. The 12 teams that earned the chance to compete in the 4th Annual Championships started day one with 24 baker games to then be seeded into bracket play rounds, which were best-of-seven with double elimination.
Bowling for the Vikings on the National team were seniors
Lucas Kramer,
Nicholas Prochnow,
Johnathan Hemmingsen, and Alex Knoshaug, sophomores
Andru Wilder,
Xander Pickett,
Brandon Nakaoka, and lone freshman
Skyler Vong.
THE SENIORS
The men, seeded 12th to start the tournament, immediately entered Round 1 of match play. Grand View men bowled against 5th-seeded Pikeville University. The men started the match strong by winning the first game before dropping the next 4, sending them to the elimination bracket. Round I scores were as follows: W189/159, L198/252, L191/216, and L188/210.
On day two, the men started against 3rd-seeded St. Xavier University. The Grand View men started a little slow, losing the first game, L174/278, but would bounce back in the second game with a win, W213/186. In game three, the Vikings would win again, keeping their momentum going, W214/200; St. Xavier would rally back in the fourth game, stopping the Viking momentum as GVU fell, L172/215. The men responded well in the fifth game, winning W169/150 and then losing the sixth game, L199/209. Going into the final game, the men were tied three games each, allowing both teams to feel the pressure of blood rounds. The Vikings tied game 7 188/188, sending the teams into an 8th-game tiebreaker. The men came to play in the tie-breaker round, winning 215/202, keeping them alive and advancing the squad to its fourth round.
Round 4 found the men bowling against the two-seed Marian University out of Indiana. The men started winning game one, W210/204, but then lost the next three games. The round four scores were: L159/192, L178/212, L186/187, and L198/248. Round four would be where the Vikings' impressive post-season run would close; the Vikings, who had recently won the Heart of America Conference Tournament, would conclude their tournament run in the fourth round of the 4th Annual NAIA National Championship.
Earning a post-tournament was senior
Nicholas Prochnow, who was honored as the NAIA Champion of Character for the Vikings.
THE SENIORS
FROM COACH FELTON
"It was a great tournament for the men, who finished 8th at Nationals. They fought hard every game, with great energy and staying positive. They should be proud of their performance."
