Bulldogs battle at home!

Fresno State's Bulldog Bowlers continued their 2023-2024 season this past weekend hosting the 50th Annual West Coast Collegiate Team Championships at Bulldog Bowl.

Day 1 was competed on what proved to be a medium scoring Great Wall of China pattern. Saturday’s competition saw the Bulldog Varsity team finish a disappointing 5th place in qualifying. This tournament featured a 12-Team Single Elimination Bracket format. The format for the bracket was a race to two wins. If the teams split the two baker games, a best ball roll off was used to determine the advancing team. The 5th place qualifying position earned the Varsity team a bye in the first round.

In the 2nd round of the Elimination Bracket, the 5th seeded Bulldogs faced off against the #4 seed UC Davis Varsity. The teams split the two baker games setting up the best ball tie break which the Bulldogs would go on to win 10 to 7.

In the Semi-Final match, the Bulldogs faced the #1 seed Grand Canyon University. Again, as in the 2nd round match, the teams would split the two baker games setting up an intense best ball roll off. Once again, the Bulldogs prevailed in the roll off, this time advancing to the final match 8 to 6.

In the Championship match, the Dogs would face the Arizona Christian Firestorm. ACU was coming off their first ever tournament win in Diamond Bar two weeks earlier and would get the better of the Bulldogs in the final match, winning both baker games. Congrats to the Firestorm! For our Bulldogs, coming off a disappointing trip down south and struggling during qualifying here at home, a run to the title was just what the team needed to start building back the confidence it will need down the road.

Also in the elimination bracket, the #9 seeded Bulldog JV faced the #8 seed San Jose State JV. Unfortunately, the SJSU JV made quick work of our JV in their first round match.

Individually, the team was led by sophomore Vincent Luong (205 average) who finished 12th overall. Finishing right behind Vincent was senior Jarrett Smith (204 average).

The junior varsity team was led by senior Max Leval (23rd- 193 average) and freshman Hailey Boudakian (31st- 184 average). Senior Anthony Romero averaged an outstanding 215 but placed 33rd place as he competed in only 4 of the 5 games.

The Bulldog Varsity used the strong finish Saturday night to propel them to a solid performance in Sunday's tournament. The second tournament was competed on the higher scoring Tungsten oil pattern. After leading the tournament throughout the day, the Bulldogs ended up settling for 3rd place, 87 pins behind champion GCU and 22 pins behind ACU. Grand Canyon University made it a clean sweep of the weekends power points. Once again our Junior Varsity team finished 2nd to San Jose State's JV.

In the second tournament, the Bulldogs were led by senior Spencer Norvell who finished 2nd overall, with a great 237 average. Vincent Luong finished his strong weekend with a 4th place individual finish while averaging 226. Jarrett Smith also had a solid second tournament finishing in 11th place with a 206 average. For the JV, Miguel Acosta turned in his best finish of the season finishing 12th with a 206 average.

What were they throwing?

Vincent Luong- Hammer Obsession Solid, Dv8 Damn Good Verge Pearl and Track Kinetic Black Ice

Spencer Norvell- Hammer Envy Tour, Brunswick Knock Out Bruiser, Brunswick Quantum Evo Response, Columbia Eruption Pearl and Hammer Purple Hammer.

Jarrett Smith- Brunswick Mindset, Brunswick Teal Rhino, Brunswick Melee Carbon and Hammer Purple Hammer.

Max Leval- Radical Cash Solid, Brunswick Knock Out Bruiser, Brunswick Defender Hybrid and Hammer Purple Hammer.

Hailey Boudakian- Hammer Black Widow Solid 2.0 and Hammer Black Widow Hybrid.

Anthony Romero- Brunswick Mindset, Dv8 Grudge Hybrid, Hammer Not Urethane and Hammer Black Widow Urethane.

Miguel Acosta- Hammer Black Widow Ghost, Hammer Raw Pearl (Blue/Silver), Radical Deadly Rattler and Hammer Purple Hammer.

Special thank you’s go out to Norvell's, Boudakian's, Weinstein's and Luong's who were all there to lend their support to our team! The gatorade’s, donuts, snacks, waters, etc. are greatly appreciated by the players and coaches! A special thank you to the Boudakian's for providing sandwiches for the second day. Also, once again thank you to Steven Norvell for live streaming much of the weekends action to Facebook.

Big thank you's also go out to Robbie Bennett and Kevin Hammons for managing the tournament and making it possible for me to be on the lanes with the kids. I know the days ran a bit longer than what was anticipated and I never heard a complaint. (Maybe you guys were just careful when I was around...lol). I did see that Kevin logged in some ZZZZZZ's at one point....

Lastly, it was great to be at our home center. The crowd support was great especially during the bracket competition and down to the finish of Day 2. Big thanks to Jason Tehee and his staff for their hard work. It's quite the challenge to take on a format like this with no dead pairs to use.

As always, couldn't do this without the support of our sponsors Brunswick, VISE and Genesis. Thank you for your continuing support of our program.

Next up for the Bulldogs is the Glenn Carlson Las Vegas Invitational and Collegiate Shoot-Out in Las Vegas December 18-21st.

GO BULLDOGS!

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