Two-handed bowler, first-year Maggie Thoma following through her roll.
The Arkansas State Red Wolves bowling team defeated North Carolina A&T 2-0 advancing to the 2023 NCAA Championship for the fifth time in program history.
In the first match, A-State took a 1-0 lead with four Red Wolf bowlers scoring over 200.
Sophomore Brooklyn Buchanan had the highest score with a 237 followed by Junior Faith Welch with 235 points, Junior Emma Stull with 225 points and first-year Karli VanDuinen 204 points. The two-handed bowler, first-year Maggie Thoma downed 167 pins.
“We have been doing so much better in the second-half of the season. We have gained confidence, especially with this win,” Thoma said.
In game one versus North Carolina A&T, the Red Wolves produced an 80-pin lead in Baker total pinfall, winning 248-168. A-State won a closely fought game two with a score of 222-203, increasing the lead to 99 pins. A-State efficiently won the match in game four, rolling an impressive 248 to the Aggies’ 194 and leading by 132 pins going into the final game. Although the Aggies managed to cut the deficit to 78 pins in game three with a score of 225-204, they were still behind by 132 pins going into game four.
The Red Wolves maintained their superiority in game five, going 5-for-5 in 200 games with a score of 211–204, and winning the match 1,133–994 in total pinfall. Arkansas State’s 1,133 total pinfall was the third-highest production for the team this season, reflecting their outstanding performance in the matches.
With the victory, A-State improves its season record to 82-29 and boasts an impressive 29-3 record in its last 32 head-to-head matches.
“I like where we are at. It is always an honor to represent and play for a national championship. Hopefully we can do our best and bring one home,” Head Coach Justin Kostick said.
Arkansas State finished runner-up in 2008 and 2021, with third-place awards in 2010 and 2013 the last four times in the NCAA Championship. The Red Wolves look to bring their first program title home in history.
The NCAA Championship will be played April 14-15 at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, Nevada on YouTube TV. No. 3 A-State will face No. 2 Vanderbilt.
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