KAYLA DRAKE | Reporter
Ten white pins lined each alley of Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska, early Saturday morning.
Lindenwood men’s and women’s bowling teams spent Thursday and Friday competing in the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championship. The men’s team was eliminated Friday, but the women’s team persevered, undefeated.
Sixteen teams qualified for nationals and were separated into two brackets of eight for the championships.
The Lions swept through the match plays in their bracket, beating Newman University, Wichita State and Sacred Heart University.
The McKendree University Bearcats also swept through their bracket, coming up undefeated.
Saturday, both Lindenwood and McKendree, former national champions in 2017, faced 10 white pins. Lane vs. lane.
The underdogs had “nothing to lose,” according to senior Amanda Garavet.
Even USBC’s coverage of the tournament mostly covered the Bearcats and predicted a back-to-back title win for them.
McKendree won the first game, but Lindenwood came back to win three games in a row, claiming the national championship. It has been 12 years since the women’s team has won a national title.
Sophomore Merlina San Nicolás, who also is a reporter for Lindenlink, said she almost didn’t have any words for what happened.
“It’s incredible to win and see all our hard work pay off,” she said.
Garavet was voted as MVP from multiple teams in the championship. She said being chosen as MVP was “icing on the cake” to her senior year.
“[The championship] has absolutely been a fantastic way to end it, all my four years I have dreamed about this,” she said.
The women’s championship will be aired May 9 at 7 p.m. Central on CBS Sports Network, according to bowl.com.
