35 Pin or Lose: USF Bowling

Photo: www.stfrancis.edu

Pin or Lose: USF Bowling

By: Frank Piegari Staff Writer

Every athlete has that dream of being on top — a dream to be the absolute best. For some, winning is like standing at the top of a mountain and knowing that you and your team are indisputably the only group that should be standing up there. For others, the glory of being champion is something that ends when they are handed a trophy. One thing is for sure: being a champion and having to defend a title is a different beast entirely.

This is a sentiment that was felt by the University of St. Francis (USF) men’s bowling team. Sterling Heights Michigan would be the battleground for the Fighting Saints as they walked into NAIA Nationals, looking to claim the title of NAIA Nationals Champions for the second year in a row.

With an enormous target on their back, the team of Jacob Hubbs, Nicholas Howard, Christopher Kelly, Michael Nape Jr., Alec Dudley, Evan Jaros, Theron Mitchell, Brandon Williamson and head coach Tony Talley came to nationals with one goal in mind: victory.

I reached out to Jacob Hubbs, member of the USF men’s bowling team, for a statement on the competition. Hubbs said, “We bowled 16 baker games for qualifying/seeding for double elimination match play. We were fortunate to run the winners bracket all the way back to a second straight finals appearance against Indiana Tech.”

Finding early success in the competition, the defending champions then found themselves in the winner’s bracket against Indiana Tech. Here, they had to be beaten twice in a best of five series of games in order to be eliminated. USF and Indiana Tech went back and forth trading victories with one another.

After a hard-fought set of matches, the champions found themselves in the fifth match of the first set. With the pressure on, the Fighting Saints gave it everything they had in a game that would end in a loss for USF. Tensions began to rise as the defending champions found themselves entering the second set of games against Indiana Tech. And with the previous set of games going to Indiana Tech, the pressure was on the Saints.

The second set of games held a similar fate as USF and Indiana Tech bowled with everything they had. Once again, both teams found themselves in game five of the second set of games. With victory a mere two strikes away, it all came down to Jacob Hubbs as he stepped up to the lane in the last frame of the fifth match.

With the title of national champions on the line, all eyes were on Hubbs as he made his way up.

Hubbs elaborated on these critical moments stating, “With how tough the lane conditions developed, I knew I needed to throw two really good shots. I struck the first shot but despite throwing the second one well too, I was unable to get the second one, resulting in our second-place finish.”

Hubbs adds, “To say I was extremely disappointed in myself in that moment was an understatement. I came off the approach and crouched down with my face in my jersey trying to fight back the emotion. I felt the hands of all my teammates on my back almost immediately after I did that, and that just let me know that win, lose or draw, they still stood behind me and had my back.”

When the dust finally settled, the Fighting Saints had lost with a final score of 199-196. Despite the loss, they had not been defeated. While they had not recaptured the victory of the previous year, the team still managed to capture the spirit and brotherhood that made them champions in the first place.

With Indiana Tech securing a well-earned victory, the Fighting Saints took a moment to congratulate the new champions. The team showed that, while the title of champion may have been lost, the love that the team shares for the sport of bowling is worth more than any win.

Despite the loss at nationals, the men’s bowling team gave it everything they had. The Saints took home accolades such as National Champions, National Runners up and team members Jacob Hubbs and Alec Dudley hold the distinction of being selected for the National All-Tournament Team.

Whether they are champions or brothers in arms, it is very apparent that the men’s bowling team leaves behind a trail of success wherever they go. With a team this strong, one can’t help but wonder what success they will find in the future.