Collegiate Ticker - Oct. 23, 2019

The Calumet men and Indiana Tech women found their way to the winner's circle last weekend while competing at the Columbia 300 Western Shootout in Indianapolis.

The event was held at Western Bowl and welcomed 31 men's varsity programs and 24 women's varsity teams. Teams competed in six traditional games and 15 Baker games, with total pinfall determining the champion in each division.

The Calumet men held just an 11-pin lead over St. Francis-Illinois after the traditional block but ended up claiming the victory by 455 pins after an impressive run during Baker competition. Calumet averaged more than 229 as a team throughout the Baker games on the way to a 9,969 top score.

St. Francis-Illinois held onto second with 9,514, and McKendree finished third with 9,501.

Indiana Tech's Marcus McClain led the men's individual standings, posting a 1,410 total (235 average) for his six-game score. McKendree's Bryan Hahlen was second with 1,387, and Judson's Lucas Pinkus was third with 1,383. Calumet teammates Kevin McCune (1,382) and Pete Vergos (1,371) rounded out the top five.

In the women's division, Indiana Tech had built a lead of more than 120 pins over the field through Saturday's six traditional games but slowed during Sunday's Baker block. Although the Warriors recorded the ninth-highest Baker score, the team was able to hang on for the win with an 8,423 total.

Defending Intercollegiate Team Championships winner Robert Morris-Illinois was second with 8,379, and St. Francis-Illinois was third with 8,284.

Judson's Adaliz Carballo rolled to the top individual honor in the women's division, posting a 1,230 score (205 average). Saint Xavier's Alexandra Wozniak was second with 1,218, while Indiana Tech's Briana Marquis (1,199) finished third. Lawrence Tech's Victoria Giardina (1,193) and St. Francis-Illinois' Abby Ragsdale (1,179) also finished in the top five.

In other USBC Collegiate action over the weekend:

- At the Mid States Championships in Wichita, Kansas, the Kansas Wesleyan women and Hastings men rolled through bracket play to claim wins.

- At the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Invitational in Harahan, Louisiana, top-seeded Sam Houston State bounced back to win the final four games and claim a 4-2 victory against Vanderbilt in the bracket final.

- At the Cornerstone University Intercollegiate Tournament in Grandville, Michigan, the Madonna men and Spring Arbor women walked away with wins in their respective divisions.

- At the SHU Bowl For The Cure in East Haven, Connecticut, the Long Island women rolled to the top score.

- At the NCAA Mount Shootout in Frederick, Maryland, the Youngstown State women rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Duquesne to win the bracket, 4-3.

- At the Pennsylvania Classic in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, the St. John's men claimed the title on the strength of a strong Baker performance.

For complete results and the full schedule for the 2019-2020 season, click here.