KWU Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Kansas Wesleyan women's bowling captured its first ever championship in the NAIA grouping with the Great Plains Athletic Conference as the Coyotes rolled through Sunday's bracket play to grab the title at the Fremont 30 Bowl. In doing so, the KWU bowlers punched their ticket to the NAIA Women's Bowling National Championships.
The Coyotes qualified third on Saturday after 24 Baker games and faced University of Saint Mary in the first round of Sunday's bracket play, defeating the Spires 3-0 to advance.
KWU then faced Ottawa in the second round, and defeated the Braves 3-1 to advance to the semifinal round. KWU faced Midland and defeated the Warriors 3-0 to advance to the championship series.
The Coyotes faced Morningside in the championship series after the Mustangs fought back through the loser's side of the bracket. KWU came out on top 4-1 in the best-of-7 series to claim the Grouping Championship for the first time in program history.
KWU also had a pair of players earn postseason honors. Madison Elskamp (SR/Topeka, Kan.) was named to the All-Grouping Second Team, while Linda Himes (JR/Texarkana, Ark.) was named to the first-team.
The Coyote men also were seeded third after Satuday's bracket play, but went 2-2 in bracket play.
KWU opened facing Saint Mary and knocked off the Spires 3-0 before a 3-1 defeat to Ottawa. The Coyotes bounced back in the loser bracket round beating Morningside 3-2 after trailing 2-1 in the match, but then lost 3-2 to Hastings.
KWU had five earn postseason honors. Caleb Demel was named to the All-Grouping second-team, while Caleb Coleman, Taylor Miller and Taylor Wiley were all named to the first-team. Seth Baratz was named as the Rookie of the Year.
The NAIA Women's Bowling National Championships are March 24-26 at Five Star Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich.