DAYTON, Ohio – McKendree University men's bowling will once again get the opportunity to compete at the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Men's National Championships after finishing first here at this week's ITC Sectional Dayton Qualifier held here at the Poelking Lanes South.
 
At the two-day sectional qualifier, the Bearcats punched their trip to the ITC National Championships, which are scheduled for April 21-23 at the Stardust Bowl in Addison, Ill., after totaling 12,785 pins in 64-baker games and averaged 199.8 per game at the Sectional qualifier. The Bearcats were first of 18 teams competing at the Dayton Qualifier.
 
In addition to McKendree, the three other teams that also qualified for the ITC National Championships (the top four teams from each of the four sectional qualifiers advance to nationals) from the Sectional Qualifier in Dayton were Tennessee Southern (12,646 total pinfall), University of St. Francis (Ill.) (12,595 total pinfall) and William Patterson (NJ) (12,452 total pinfall).
 
The Bearcats opened the two-day Sectional Qualifier by sitting in second place after recording 3,117 points in the first 16 games and then totaled 3,175 pins in the second 16 games to remain second with a total of 6,292 pins. In the third 16-game block, the Bearcats were in fourth place after recording 3,120 pins and then recorded 3,373 total pinfall in the fourth 16 game block to take over the top spot. McKendree averaged 210.8 per game in the final 16 games.
 
Along with qualifying as a team to the 2022 ITC National Championships, the Bearcats also will be sending an individual qualifier for the national championships as junior Seth Gass (Dix, Ill./Mt. Vernon) finished third among the field of 147 men's bowlers as he recorded a total pinfall of 1,234 and averaged 205.7 per game. Gass bowled over 200 in four of six games, including a high of 246 in the third game of qualifying. The top four individuals at the sectional qualifier advance to nationals.
 
In addition to Gass, fifth-year senior Andrew Orf (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) was 15th individually as he recorded a total pinfall of 1,173 and averaged 195.5 per game and had a high of 222 in the third game of qualifying, while sophomore Connor Brink (Rochester, NY/Monroe County) was 21st individually with a total pinfall of 1,159 and averaged 193.2 per game and had a high of 215 in the second game of qualifying and sophomore Kolby Bennett (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) was 22nd with a total pinfall of 1,153 and averaged 192.2 per game and had a high of 220 in the sixth qualifying game.
 
The next Bearcat to finish was freshman Matthew LaBonte (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards), who finished 42nd with a total pinfall of 1,096 and averaged 182.7 per game and had a high game of 222 in both the first and third games of qualifying. Graduate student Peyton Smith (Loganville, Ga./Emmanuel College) was 55th overall with a total pinfall of 1,078 and averaged 179.7 per game and had a high of 205 in the first game.
 
Freshman David Johnson (Denver, Colo./Cherokee Trail) was 67th with a total pinfall of 1,055 and averaged 175.8 per game and had a high of 219 in the fourth qualifying game.
 
The final individual bowler for the Bearcats was junior Jake Feher (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury), who finished 123rd overall with a total pinfall of 950 and averaged 158.3 per game and had a high game of 187 in the fourth game.
 
McKendree will next be in action on April 21-23 at the ITC Team Championships at the Stardust Bowl in Addison, Ill.