Bowling opens 2022-23 in style at Orange & Black Classic

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (October 9, 2022) – The Milligan University men's and women's bowling teams opened the 2022-23 campaign in historic fashion at the Orange & Black Classic over the weekend.

The season-opening event had several notable firsts for the programs as it served as the first-ever event for Milligan's women's bowling team. Sophomore Tristain Crawford became the first bowler to secure all-tournament honors and the Buffs notched their top team match play finish as the men's match play runner-up.

"We had a goal for our young teams entering this weekend's tournament to just bring the energy, play for each other and give 100 percent," said head coach Brian Rickert. "Our varsity teams and our JV team hit on all 3 areas; bringing unparalleled energy, being tremendous teammates to each other and giving it everything they had. We beat some top tier teams this weekend and showed that will be a force the rest of the season."

The Buffs sat sixth of 21 teams in the men's standings after Saturday's individual play. The Buffs cleared 4,801 pins over the course of five games. Crawford racked up 1,074 total pins (214.8 average) with a high of 278 and three 200-pin games to finish fourth in the individual standings.

"Tristan Crawford set a goal this year to make this his breakout season and he came out on fire from game one," said Rickert. "I'm so happy for him to get the all-tournament team honors… that'll be one of many for this young man."

Xander Stephens was 38th with a 191.6 average (253 high), Jackson McRae posted a 190.6 average to place 43rd. Caleb McDonald (185 average) and Cooper Brackins (182.2 average) paced Milligan's JV squad.

On the women's side, Laci MacQuisten paced the Buffs with a 182.8 average, good for ninth overall in the women's individual standings. Elizabeth Coutta followed in 21st with an average of 173.6.After Saturday's action, Milligan's women ranked sixth of 16 teams with 4,154 pins.

With baker play on Sunday, Milligan moved up the men's team standings to fourth place at 7,728 pins. Milligan had four baker games exceed 200 pins, with a high of 215. On the women's side, the Buffs finished in sixth after 16 baker games with a high of 191.

In match play, the fourth-seeded men's bowling team knocked off No. 5 Notre Dame College 2-0 (214-173, 188-146) and top-seeded Pikeville 2-0 (201-175, 245-204). The Buffs finished as the match play runner-up as they bowed out in the final against the University of Northwestern Ohio 2-0.

Milligan's women reached the match play semifinals as they upended No. 3 UNOH 2-1 but fell to Shanee State (2-0) the next round.

Milligan's men placed eighth at the JV competition with 7,018 pins after individual play and baker games. The Buffs fell to top-seeded Pikeville JV in match play. Milligan's JV notched high baker games of 264 and 231.

Bowling returns to Ohio for the Cincinnati Classic in two weeks.