DAYTON, Ohio. (April 20, 2019) – The Webber International University men's bowling team proved that it was the best men's collegiate bowling team in the country on Saturday as the Warriors won the 2019 Intercollegiate Team Championships at Poelking Lanes South in Dayton, Ohio. Additionally, freshman Tom Hankey Jr. added to the Warriors' championship weekend by winning the Intercollegiate Singles Championships on Saturday as well.

Congratulations to the Webber Warriors' men's bowling team and Tom Hankey Jr. on their 2019 ITC and ISC Championships.

Webber's Director of Athletics Darren Richie would like to invite fans and supporters of the Warriors to a special celebration for the national championship achievements of the Warriors' bowling teams on Sunday, April 21, at 5 p.m.

"Congratulations to our men's bowling team for capturing the 2019 Intercollegiate Bowling Championship, defeating Lawrence Tech in the finals this evening," spoke Richie. "This is the first time in collegiate history that that same school has won both the individual and the team trophy. We want to congratulate Coach Del Warren and the Kegel staff for their outstanding leadership in developing the best collegiate bowling team in the country. Please join us Sunday evening at 5 p.m. at Kegel to celebrate their victory."

Saturday's final rounds of the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships were taped for broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The air dates for the shows (all times Eastern) are: ISC women, April 23 at 11 p.m.; ISC men, April 30 at 8 p.m.; ITC women, May 7 at 8 p.m.; and ITC men, May 14 at 8 p.m.

The 16 men's and 16 women's teams qualified for the ITC field by finishing in the top four at one of four sectional events held in March. On Thursday, teams bowled 24 Baker qualifying games to determine seeding for the double-elimination bracket.

The Webber men's team qualified in fifth place with a grand total of 4,879 pins while the Webber women's team also qualified in fifth with 4,608 pins.
 

 
Intercollegiate Team Championships Men's Bracket:
In the championship match against No. 6-seeded Lawrence Tech, the only match to be played on Saturday, No. 5-seeded Webber came out on top 3-0 (179-176, 150-149, 209-181), winning the first two games by a combined four points, to claim yet another ITC National Championship.

In the men's title match, Webber snagged the 179-176 victory in Game 1 behind senior Matthew Russo's three-strike 10th frame. It forced Lawrence Tech's Kyle McGrath to double to win, and McGrath buried the first shot, but he left a 4 pin on the second delivery.

Lawrence Tech again had a chance to shut out Webber in the final frame of Game 2, but an open frame again opened the door for Russo. Needing to fill 19 pins for the win, Russo struck on his first offering, left a 3-7 split on the second shot and clipped the 3 pin on the fill for the 150-149 victory.

In Game 3, Webber sandwiched an open frame and a spare between six strikes during the first eight frames, but Lawrence Tech wouldn't go quietly despite some struggles. After a strike in the ninth, Lawrence Tech filled 20 pins in the 10th frame to set the stage for Webber.

Needing a mark to secure the Helmer Cup, Russo stepped up in the 10th frame and buried a strike on his first offering to give the program its second ITC title. Webber won the game 209-181.

"I just kept telling the guys to give me a shot," said Russo, who was selected at the tournament's most valuable player. "I like those clutch moments. When something means so much to me, I find a way to dig deep. It's the type of bowling I like to pride myself on."

Along with Russo, who was selected to the men's all-tournament team, the Warriors' ITC team consisted of Evan Baranecky, Adam Glickman, Tom Hankey Jr., Brennan Haugh, Nash Medico, Maxx Tamburrino and Adam Zimmerman.

To just get to the championship match against Lawrence Tech, which was making its first appearance in the title match, Webber had to beat its rival and defending ITC National Champion and No. 13-seeded McKendree University twice.

Webber was originally swept by McKendree 4-0 (268-168, 223-191, 196-170, 216-158) in the second round of match play and had to come back through the Contenders bracket to face McKendree again, who still had not lost to that point.

Webber handed McKendree its first loss in the bracket, 4-2 (167-185, 178-162, 166-240, 214-204, 219-202, 203-191), winning each of the final three games to force a deciding match where the Warriors rolled to a 4-0 (227-210, 200-168, 185-160, 256-204) victory over the Bearcats.

"Physically, I feel like this is the best I've bowled since I've been in college," said Russo, the 2018-2019 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association's Most Valuable Player. "To do that at this stage, against these top teams and to come through in the clutch, is something I always wanted to do."

After falling to McKendree in round two, the Warriors had to win three straight in the Contenders bracket as the Warriors came from behind 3-0 to beat No. 8-seeded William Penn 4-3 (147-153, 157-202, 156-203, 194-189, 224-220, 205-155, 205-159) in a close seven-game match and beat No. 4-seeded St. Ambrose 4-2 (203-215, 205-148, 200-167, 210-233, 234-185, 182-163) before defeating No. 9-seeded the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 4-2 (225-197, 169-169-157-199, 188-224, 203-192, 257-187, 226-183) in seven games and winning each of the final three.


 
Men's Intercollegiate Singles Championships:
Webber International University men's bowling's Tom Hankey Jr., a freshman from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, won in both the semifinals and finals on Saturday to claim the Men's Intercollegiate Singles Championship.

Hankey Jr., the No. 9 seed, defeated No. 5-seeded Kyle McGrath (Lawrence Tech) 248-175 in the semifinals before coming out on top 245-182 in the championship match over No. 10 Matt Hibbard (Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

In the title match, Hankey Jr. started with strikes in four of the first five frames while Hibbard opened his first two frames. Hibbard struck in the fourth and fifth as he tried to work his way back into the match, but he would have his third open frame of the match and Hankey Jr. closed by striking in three of the final four frames in the 245-182 victory.



"This is awesome, and right now it means the world to me," said Hankey Jr., who won the U15 Junior Gold Championships title in 2015. "All the hard work and dedication all year long, from August to now, this all comes together, and when it happens like that, it's an amazing feeling."

Hankey Jr. topped Kyle McGrath of Lawrence Tech, who he would see again in the team title match later Saturday. Hankey Jr. started that match with four consecutive strikes, and while McGrath struck on three of his first four shots, he couldn't convert a 2-10 split in the second frame. Hankey Jr. continued to build on his 34-pin lead from that point, winning 248-178.

Hankey Jr. said having the second semifinal match was helpful in his run to the title.
 
"That was a big advantage," Hankey Jr. said. "I knew exactly what the lanes were doing, I could keep right in rhythm."
 
Intercollegiate Team Championships Women's Bracket:
The No. 5-seeded Lady Warriors' bowling team defeated No. 12-seeded Alabama-Birmingham 4-2 (156-180, 166-165, 166-193, 212-193, 194-191, 189-167) by winning each of the final three games before losing to No. 4-seeded Stephen F. Austin 4-1 (220-157, 198-195, 196-177, 142-179, 187-141) in round two.

Then, in the Contenders bracket, the Lady Warriors were ousted by the No. 16 seed, Delaware St., 4-2 (158-209, 200-183, 192-172, 152-180, 221-151, 182-173).