Warriors claim second in V-Hawk Invitational

By Matt Oliver

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Caleb Bain rolled a 1,063-pin total to lock up third place while leading the Waldorf College men’s bowling team to a runner-up finish in the Viterbo V-Hawk Invitational on Sunday.
Bain, a senior from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, recorded a 212.6 average through five games and was named to the all-tournament team.
“Caleb did an outstanding job all weekend,” Waldorf coach Joe Squires said.
The Warriors posted a score of 8,084 in the two-day tournament that featured five games for individuals and a 16-game baker format. They charged to the championship round behind a strong finish.
“Once again, we came from fourth place to qualify second for the championship qualifying round and just had some bad breaks during the final match,” Squires said. “I am proud of the quality of bowling from this group as they came back and improved from our last tournament.”
Waldorf freshman Kyle Swiderski claimed ninth, turning in a 1,002-pin performance (200.4 average).
Freshman Tanner Schmitz provided the top finish for Waldorf’s junior varsity team, which placed seventh with a 7,488 score. Schmitz earned 15th with a two-day total of 974 (194.8 average).
Freshman Tyler Doss tied for 22nd behind a 921 (184.2 average) while competing for the Warrior JV squad.
Junior Tony Manna contributed to Waldorf’s varsity score as he tied for 33rd with an 878 (175.6 average).
Bowling for the Warrior JV team, sophomore Michael Templin took 36th behind an 865-pin (173 average) finish and freshman Damon Helgevold tied for 37th with an 835 (167 average).
Freshman Roger Harford added an 820 (164 average) to secure 39th for Waldorf’s varsity team, junior Nicholas Heimerman placed 40th with a 781 (156.2 average) and senior Matthew Truman finished 60th with 329 pins.
Minnesota State University won the tournament championship with an 8,320 team total. The Waldorf (8,084) varsity team finished ahead of Clarke University (7,953), Viterbo University (7,925), Morningside College (7,709), the University of Wisconsin-Stout (7,583), Waldorf JV (7,488), the University of Northern Iowa (7,439), Graceland University (7,327), Winona State University (7,046) and Wisconsin-Stout JV (6,924) in the 11-team tournament.
Viterbo’s Mitch Hanson captured first place behind a 1,222 (244.4 average) while Minnesota State’s Glen Byllesby earned second with a 1,145 (229 average).
A strong performance motivates the Warriors, who resume the season Feb. 6-7 in the 3rd Annual Crusader Open at Dubuque.
“Their attitudes showed so much character,” Squires said. “I was very impressed and pleased with how they came together and performed as a group.”