SMYRNA, Tenn. – For the third consecutive year, the top-ranked McKendree women's bowling team took home the team title here Sunday at the 2022 Columbia 300 Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University and held at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
At the three-day, 33-team event, the Bearcats finished with an 11-1 overall record and recorded a total pinfall of 13,124 pins and averaged 215.1 per game in 61 games. The Bearcats opened the event with a 5-0 record in Friday's Baker games, before going 4-1 in Saturday's traditional games and then going 2-0 in Sunday's Baker bracket play tournament as they defeated No. 8 ranked Stephen F. Austin, 4-2, in the bracket play championship match.
The tournament title was the third of the 2021-22 season for the Bearcats as they also took home the team title at the Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic in early January and the Columbia 300 Saints Invitational in early February. In addition, the Bearcats had runner-up finishes at the Bearcat Hammer Classic, the MOTIV Ladyjack Hammer Classic, the Northeast Classic and the Big Red Invitational.
The Bearcats recorded over 1,000 pins in all but one of their 13 matches as they scored 977 pins in its win on Friday over Jackson State.
After being the No. 1 seed for Sunday's best—of-seven baker-style bracket play, the Bearcats opened bracket play with a match against sixth-ranked and No. 2 seeded Arkansas State. The Bearcats defeated the Red Wolves, 4-1. McKendree won the first two games (221-157 and 212-201), while ASU won the third game (220-192). The Bearcats though would win both game four (221-192) and game five (228-219) to earn the 4-1 win and earn a spot in the championship match.
After having a bye in the second-round match, the Bearcats would meet Stephen F. Austin in the championship match. In the final match, McKendree would win the first three games, 213-203, 228-205 and 276-187 to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven match. SFA, though, would rally to win the next two games (215-199 and 237-218) to cut McKendree's lead to 3-2. The Bearcats would respond in the sixth game as they would collect a hard-fought 213-209 win in the game to seal its third straight Columbia 300 Music City Classic Championship.
Along with winning its third straight Columbia 300 Music City Classic title, the Bearcats also took had the top bowler in the tournament as junior
Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) was named the Tournament MVP. Hagerman was joined on the Music City All-Tournament Team by Vanderbilt's Mabel Cummins, Arkansas State's Brooklyn Buchanan, North Carolina A&T's Lauren Tomaszewski, Maryland Eastern Shore's Brooke Roberts and Stephen F. Austin's Carlene Beyer.
In Saturday's traditional games, the Bearcats had three of the Top 15 individuals as junior
Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) finished sixth with a pinfall of 1,120 as she averaged 224.0 per game and had four games of over 200, including a high game of 247 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
In addition to Hagerman, junior
Maranda Pattison (Redwood Valley, Calif./Ukiah Independent) finished 12th overall with a total pinfall of 1,100 as she averaged 220.0 per game and recorded a 200 or better in four of her five games, including a high of 256 in the second game of the day against No. 12 Maryville, while fifth-year senior
Britaney Myers (Mechanicsville, NY/Stillwater) was 14th overall with a pinfall total of 1,095 as she averaged 21.9.0 per game and had four games of 200 or better, including a high game of 255 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Two other Bearcats finished in the Top 40 of the individual standings as sophomore
Isabel Allen (Tamworth, England/Polesworth High) was 17th with a total pinfall of 1,071 and an average of 214.2 per game as Allen bowled 200 or better in three games, including a high of 236 against No.12 Maryville and senior All-American
Hope Gramly (Prosper, Texas/Prosper) was 37th overall with a pinfall total of 1,019 as she averaged 203.8 per game and had two games of 200 or better, including a high of 235 against No. 14 Maryville.
The Bearcats will return to action next weekend (March 27-27) as they look to repeat as the Great Lakes Valley Conference Champions as McKendree will compete in the 2022 GLVC Championships, which will be held at Bowlero Lakeside in Valley Park, Mo.
Columbia 300 Music City Classic Final Results
1. McKendree
2. Stephen F. Austin
3. Arkansas State
4. Vanderbilt
5. Maryland Eastern Shore
6. North Carolina A&T
7. Maryville
8. Sam Houston
9. Louisiana Tech
10. Youngstown
11. Lincoln Memorial
12. Nebraska
13. Central Missouri
14. Tulane
15. LIU
16. Monmouth
17. Wisconsin Whitewater
18. Lewis
19. Alabama St.
20. Valparaiso
21. Emmanual
22. Drury
23. Sacred Heart
24. Kentucky Wesleyan
25. UAB
26. Tusculum
27. Carthage
28. Jackson St.
29. Aurora
30. Alabama A&M
31. North Central
32. Carroll
33. Spalding
