Field set for the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

By Kevin Hazaert
USBC Communications

The field is set for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, presented by Storm, following the completion of Sectional Qualifier competition March 15-16, with the Saginaw Valley State University men’s team and Wichita State University women’s team ready to defend their titles.

Four Sectional Qualifiers, comprising of 64 Baker System games, were held at AMF Parkway in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill.; and Southpoint Hotel & Casino Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

The top four in the men’s and women’s divisions at each sectional advanced to the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, presented by Storm, scheduled for April 16-19 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

Saginaw Valley State, which defeated Robert Morris University for its second consecutive national championship last season and fourth overall, won the Chattanooga Sectional to advance to the national finals for the fifth straight year.

Saginaw Valley State will be seeking its third consecutive national title. The only other team to win three straight titles was Wichita State, which accomplished the feat from 1993 to 1995.

Other qualifiers from the men’s division, which features six past champions and eight returning teams from the 2007 event, include sectional champions Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), Fresno State and William Paterson. Also advancing were Arizona State, Central Florida, Indiana, Lindenwood, Michigan State, Mohawk Valley CC, UNLV, Pikeville, Purdue, Vincennes, Wichita State and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Wichita State will make its 23rd straight appearance and record 28th overall appearance in the event’s 34-year history. Wisconsin-Whitewater will be making its first appearance.

In the women’s division, Wichita State, which defeated McKendree for its eighth national title last season, won the Fairview Heights Sectional to advance for the 27th straight year dating back to 1982 and record 33rd appearance.

Wichita State will aim for its record ninth national championship on its home turf of Northrock Lanes once again.

Other qualifiers from the women’s division, which features four former champions and 10 returning teams from 2007, include sectional champions Central Florida, Lindenwood and Pikeville. Joining them will be Bellarmine, Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), Florida State, Fresno State, Martin Methodist, Maryland-Eastern Shore, McKendree, Morehead State, Newman, Purdue, Robert Morris College (Ill.) and Shippensburg.

Bellarmine, Calumet and Robert Morris all will be making their first appearance at the national finals. Florida State will return for the first time since its runner-up finish in 2003, while Maryland-Eastern Shore, an NCAA Division I program, advances after a one-year absence.

Seven schools qualified both their men’s and women’s teams from sectionals, which consisted of 32 Baker System games each day for a total of 64 Baker games.

The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. The tournament brings together the top 16 men’s and top 16 women’s teams in the country to compete for national titles on national television (CBS College Sports Network). Visit bowl.com for more information on the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships and USBC Collegiate program.

2008 ITC Sectional Qualifiers – Men’s Final results after 64 Baker games

Top 4 at each sectional advance to 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

Allentown (Pa.) Sectional
1. William Paterson, 12,254; 2. Mohawk Valley CC, 12,150; 3. Pikeville, 12,099; 4. Michigan State, 12,012; 5. Morehead State, 11,890; 6. St. John’s, 11,798; 7. Rochester Tech, 11,731; 8. Penn State-Berks/Lehigh, 11,623; 9. Penn State, 11,483; 10. Briarcliffe, 11,312; 11. Hudson Valley CC, 11,200; 12. Shippensburg, 10,928; 13. Marist, 10,782.

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Sectional
1. Saginaw Valley State, 13,479; 2. Purdue, 12,976; 3. Vincennes, 12,902; 4. Central Florida, 12,798; 5. Robert Morris (Pa.), 12,510; 6. Florida State, 12,354; 7. Ohio State, 12,313; 8. Wright State, 12,231; 9. North Carolina State, 12,215; 10. Louisville, 12,046; 11. South Florida, 12,037; 12. Bowling Green State, 11,828; 13. Ball State, 11,682; 14. Virgina Tech, 11,461; 15. Toledo, 11,433; 16. Youngstown State, 11,384; 17. Kent State, 8,567.

Fairview Heights (Ill.) Sectional
1. Calumet College of St. Joseph, 12,808; 2. Wichita State, 12,772; 3. Indiana, 12,661; 4. Wisconsin-Whitewater, 12,466; 5. Nebraska-Omaha, 12,419; 6. Nebraska, 12,413; 7. Newman, 12,393; 8. McKendree, 12,087; 9. Minnesota State, 12,058; 10. Western Illinois, 11,907; 11. Illinois, 11,837; 12. North Dakota State, 11,805; 13. Kansas, 11,764; 14. Central Missouri, 11,592; 15. Wisconsin, 11,360; 16. Northern Illinois, 11,156; 17. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 10,687.

Las Vegas Sectional
1. Fresno State, 13,021; 2. Lindenwood, 12,925; 3. UNLV, 12,826; 4. Arizona State, 12,645; 5. San Jose State, 12,582; 6. UC Davis, 12,147; 7. Robert Morris (Ill.), 12,113; 8. Missouri Baptist, 12,003; 9. Martin Methodist, 11,878; 10. Texas Tech, 11,813; 11. Weber State, 11,801; 12. West Texas A&M, 11,792; 13. North Texas, 11,672; 14. Washington State, 11,452.

2008 ITC Sectional Qualifiers – Women’s Final results after 64 Baker games

Top 4 at each sectional advance to 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

Allentown (Pa.) Sectional
1. Pikeville, 12,425; 2. Morehead State, 11,882; 3. Maryland-Eastern Shore, 11,492; 4. Shippensburg, 11,222; 5. Hudson Valley CC, 10,918; 6. Erie CC, 10,900; 7. Penn State, 10,822; 8. Briarcliffe, 10,604; 9. Mohawk Valley CC, 10,410; 10. Michigan State, 10,216.

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Sectional
1. Central Florida, 12,177; 2. Purdue, 11,671; 3. Florida State, 11,408; 4. Bellarmine, 11,406; 5. Ohio State, 11,362; 6. Ball State, 11,356; 7. Grand Valley State, 11,281; 8. Youngstown State, 11,083; 9. Bowling Green State, 10,885.

Fairview Heights (Ill.) Sectional
1. Wichita State, 12,470; 2. McKendree, 11,754; 3. Newman, 11,747; 4. Calumet College of St. Joseph, 11,491; 5. Illinois, 10,971; 6. South Dakota State, 10,944; 7. Western Illinois, 10,675; 8. Illinois State, 10,637; 9. Carthage, 9,873; 10. Indiana, 9,688; 11. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 9,522; 12. Wisconsin, 9,380.

Las Vegas Sectional
1. Lindenwood, 12,303; 2. Robert Morris (Ill.), 12,231; 3. Fresno State, 11,983; 4. Martin Methodist, 11,685; 5. West Texas A&M, 11,481; 6. San Jose State, 10,822; 7. UC Davis, 9,468.