BABSON PARK, Fla. (April 22, 2020) – Over the next couple of weeks, Webber International University athletics will be remembering some of its greatest sports teams of all time. Next up is the 2008-09, 2011-12 and 2018-19 Webber men's bowling teams.

Throughout the course of its 12-year history that began with the 2008-09 season, Webber International University men's bowling has won five official team national championships, all under the direction of current Head Coach Del Warren.

During the Warriors' first season under Warren's tenure as head coach in 2011-12, Webber won both the NAIA and ITC National Championships. The Warriors then won back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2017 and 2018 before most recently winning their second official ITC National Championship in 2019.

Coach Warren stated, "As far as winning national championships, there's no other feeling quite like it, and I've experienced some pretty cool things in the sport and business of bowling, including winning on tour. Winning a national championship so far surpasses that experience because there's so many people involved that are really pulling for you, and It is about doing your part for our success as a team as opposed to your individual success."

While each of Webber's national championships on the men's side have come during Coach Warren's tenure as head coach, none of the team's success would have been possible if not for the inaugural 2008-09 campaign for the Warriors.

2008-09 Webber Men's Bowling Team: The first ever official season of competition for the Webber men's bowling team came in 2008-09 as after finishing the qualifying round in fourth place at the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Rockford, Illinois, the Warriors went on to finish third at their first ever appearance at the ITC National Championships.

Webber was actually undefeated at 3-0 heading into the semifinals of the national tournament before falling in back-to-back meetings against eight-time and defending national champion Wichita State. Earlier in the tournament, the Warriors were the only team to defeat Wichita State in the double elimination format when they beat the best team in the country and defending national champs in round three, only one round before the semifinals. Unfortunately, the Warriors just could not upset the Shockers again for a chance at the title.

Earlier in the tournament, Webber defeated 13th-seed Robert Morris 4-2 in the first round but then found itself behind 2-0 against fifth-ranked Lindenwood in the second round before rattling off four straight winning games to earn a second straight 4-2 victory. Webber then met eight-time national champion Wichita State in the third round and won 4.5 to 2.5, sending the Shockers to the losers, or Contenders, bracket. However, the Shockers jumped out of the Contender's bracket with a victory over Arizona State, and Webber had to face the Shockers again.

This time around, the Warriors lost 4-1. Then, since both teams had one loss in the double elimination format, they had to play again. Wichita State won 4-2 and then won its second consecutive title and ninth overall by defeating Saginaw Valley State 2-1.

But it was not just the fact that a first-year program finished third at nationals that made that season and that team historic and worthy of a mention as one of the greatest Webber sports teams of all-time.

During the qualifying round at the national tournament, Webber bowled the first ever Baker 300 game in the 34-year history of the national championship tournament. In a Baker game, bowlers switch off to bowl each frame instead of one bowler bowling an entire game themselves. Larry Brande, Kyle Calcote, Andrew Colon, Javier Diaz and Andro Simounet each bowled two strikes for the perfect game.

One of the standout award winners from Webber's inaugural season in 2008-09 was freshman Larry Brande, who was ranked 12th in average and 18th in scoring differential en route to being named Rookie of the Year at the national tournament. Brande was also named NCBCA Second-Team All-American and BWAA (Bowling Writers Association of America) Honorable Mention All-American. Additionally, freshman Marcelo Suartz was named to national championship all-tournament team.

Other significant accomplishments as a first-year program for Webber included: Seven top-5 finishes in 11 events, three top-5 finishes in Tier 1 Events, a Tier 1 win in it's very first semester of competition (Nittany Lion Kegler Classic, Maple, NJ, 46 teams in the event), third place sectional qualifier (217 Baker average for 16 game block), seven all-tournament team recognitions during the regular season (including No. 1 bowler at the Midwest Collegiate and Leatherneck Classic), and a National Coach of the Year Nomination.

Although the 2008-09 men's bowling season did not result in a national championship for the Warriors, that inaugural season certainly set in motion the history of the Webber men's bowling program and showed that the Warriors would be a legitimate national contender for years to come.

Adam Zimmerman, a current senior on the Webber men's bowling team, reflected on the history of the Warrior bowling program and said, "The teams that started the Webber bowling programs for both the men and the women were not only amazing, but they set the standard from day one. They were the creators of 'The Webber Way' and started the culture we now have today. Most of if not all of those players have turned out to be beyond successful in life and some have made names for themselves in professional bowling."

2011-12 Webber Men's Bowling Team: Three years following Webber's inaugural season and four years into its history, the Webber men's bowling team won not only its first team national championship, but actually won two national championships in the same season, which is the only time that has been done in the history of both the Webber men's and women's bowling programs.

After finishing as the national runners-up at the ITC National Championship in 2011 with a 2-0 defeat against Fresno State University, the Warriors' first season with Coach Warren, who was officially announced as head coach on February 14, 2012, despite being with the program since its inception in 2008, resulted in first-place finishes at the ITC Sectionals (March 9-11), at the NAIA National Championship (March 30 – April 1), and at the ITC National Championship (April 17-21).

At the 2012 NAIA National Championship held at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana, the second-seeded Warriors went undefeated (4-0) against four different teams in match play to bring home the program's first ever national title. In the championship match, Webber defeated Calumet College 3-0 in a best-of-five match play format with scores of 224-202, 187-185 and 214-156. Suartz, then a senior, was voted to the all-tournament team and was also named tournament MVP.

A few weeks later at the 2012 ITC National Championship in Lincoln, Nebraska, Webber pulled off the sweep and made it two consecutive national championships by defeating Wichita State 2.5-0 5 in the championship.

In the championship, Game 1 went to Webber 179-167. In Game 2, Wichita struck out in the 10th to tie and force a Game 3, where Webber was able to through a double in the ninth and 10th frames to win 194-184.

"The reason our 2012 team won both ends of the national championship was their commitment to hold each other accountable for giving their best effort every single day," said Warren. "They pushed and pushed each other to be the best they could be."

Earlier in the ITC National Tournament, the Warriors finished qualifying as the 11th-seed but quickly earned three straight upsets over sixth-seeded Kansas (4-1) in round one, over third-seeded Midland (4-3) in round two and over second-seeded Lindenwood (4-3) in round three. Then in the semifinals, Webber matched up again with Lindenwood, dropped the first match and then faced a 3-1 deficit in the second match before coming back to win the best-of-seven series 4-3 and advance to the championship.

2018-19 Webber Men's Bowling Team: 10 years after Webber's inaugural season and 11 years into its existence, the Webber men's bowling team again made history by becoming the first men's team in collegiate bowling to win both the ITC (team) and ISC (singles) national championships in the same season.

In addition to winning Webber men's bowling's second official ITC National Championship in program history, freshman Tom Hankey Jr. went on to win the 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.

"Winning the ISC Championship was an amazing experience," said Hankey Jr. "There was a lot of time, effort, dedication and practice put into that event. To be a part of the great names that have won that event in the past is truly special to me."

Although it was Hankey Jr. who won the ISC national championship as only a freshman, it was senior Matthew Russo who was named ITC National Tournament MVP and was named as the International Bowing Media Association's (IBMA) 2018-19 Men's Collegiate Bowler of the Year, becoming the first Warrior men's bowler to win that award.

Russo reflected on his senior season as a Warrior in 2018-19 and said, "When my name was called and I received those two awards, it validated all the hard work I had put in. I had a fantastic senior season and averaged 225 for 40 games of competition. It was the best season I had in my collegiate career. To go out by winning the national championship was an experience I will never forget. It meant something a little different to me because I dedicated that win to my grandfather who passed away before the season had begun. He was a big supporter of not only myself, but the entire bowling program as well and all I ever wanted was for him to be there to see it but I know he was looking down cheering us on. It was very emotional. We were a tight knit group and were an experienced team with a couple new additions to round it out. It was simply amazing what we overcame that week to win it all."

In the championship match, No. 5-seeded Webber came out on top against No. 6-seeded Lawrence Tech by a score of 3-0 (179-176, 150-149, 209-181), winning the first two games by only a combined four points.

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.

"When looking back at last year's team, it was pretty evident that this team really loved to play together," continued Warren. "They wanted each other to succeed and they had a lot of fun doing it. It was the easiest season I've ever had. The team pretty much ran themselves."

Along with Russo and Hankey Jr., the Warriors' ITC team consisted of Evan Baranecky, Adam Glickman, Brennan Haugh, Nash Medico, Maxx Tamburrino and Adam Zimmerman.

"Getting to win a national championship is a feeling that honestly is hard to describe," said Zimmerman, who was a junior on the 2018-19 championship team at Webber. "It is most definitely something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. There is so much that goes into winning a national title throughout the year and behind the scenes that it's incredible. Every drill or workout is in preparation just for the chance to win that title, and the best way to describe it is preparing to going to war with your family."

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 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.

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.

"Being able to win a national championship with our team was something that I will never forget as long as I live," continued Hankey Jr. "We worked so hard, practiced, dedicated and did everything that we could have done leading up to that event. It was amazing to feel that all of that work had paid off."

"The experience of winning a national championship is honestly almost surprising because it happens so fast, yet it is so vivid at the same time," said Tamburrino, who was a senior on the Warriors' 2018-19 men's bowling team. "All of the struggles, long talks and detail we put into it during each season is crazy because we all love the sport so much and wanted to win for each other. It was amazing to win with guys I'd been a captain to, lived with, and somewhat coached to get to that point. Finishing it off the way we did put us into the history books, and to look back on it is always awesome."

But what makes the Webber International University men's bowling program so special? Well in the words of Coach Warren, "What makes Webber's bowling program so special is several factors. The first, is obvious. The Kegel Training Center and the culture here. Second would be the coaching staff who were all involved with the team. Six of the best coaches in the world all have input in the development of our program which changes and improves every year. Lastly, our commitment to consistent high standards, which we call the 'Webber Way'. These three factors have produced the results that we've seen for over a decade in and out of the classroom.

"Overall, I think the men's bowling program really put Webber on the map in terms of world bowling," continued Warren. "I think we've built a reputation over a short period time. Television and social media help a lot, but when people like Gary Faulkner, Diana Zavjalova, Daria Pajak and Verity Crawley have success on television after their college careers, that is why the Webber name is now known around the world as the premier college bowling program."

Hankey Jr. said, "I believe that what makes the Webber bowling team so special and successful is our process and how we manage what we call 'Webber Way'. We put major stress on being excellent at what we are able to control. We don't have control over our opponents, their scores, lane malfunctions or any issues like that. So we tend not to let them bother us. By managing ourselves and our team, that is what makes us one of the top teams in the country."

"I think that the Webber men's bowling team has been so successful over the years because of the culture and environment at Kegel," added Zimmerman. "The 'Webber Way' is not just a saying, it's a way of life, and three major components to that are to be coachable, patient and present, and to strive for constant learning on and off the lanes."

Final Thoughts:

"The legacy of the Webber bowling program and all of its historic teams is to continue to fight, never give up and to always work hard," concluded Russo. "The program is all about hard work and never giving up, and that is exactly what we did to win. What sticks out the most to me when thinking about Webber men's bowling is the people who are a part of the program and the close friendships that are created. I lived with three guys who were on the national championship team for three years of my collegiate career, one of the being one of my co-captains during our senior year, so we had all built a very special bond that we still have today."

Tamburrino concluded, "The bowling team at Webber means a lot because we teach and learn in a way that if you take advantage of it, you will learn valuable life skills for being an adult, employee, leader, coach, etc. After my time in college and with the Webber men's bowling team, my bar is set higher than the average person because of a program like this one. It's because of that program that I'm glad to be where I am today."

"I believe our program has been successful because we have placed a priority on recruiting players who are 'coachable' and who fully commit to being part of a team," spoke Coach Rick Wiltse. "The other winning combination is the personalized education that Webber offers students coupled with the unique training opportunities and coaching expertise of the Kegel Training Center. Together, the two programs offer a compatible environment for student-athletes to achieve their best."

"When you look at college bowling now versus when we started 12 years ago, many of the things that we've implemented on our teams are now common in college," concluded Coach Warren. "Some of it has to do with people watching and some of it has to do with the teaching that we provide coaches through the Kegel Training Center model. It truly is unique the fact that we share all of our knowledge with the world. I'm not sure that happens in any other sport. I believe we now have five Webber graduates that are either college or high school coaches, such as Katie Thornton and Verity Crawley at SCAD Savannah, which has already won two NAIA National Championships. Along with that, we now see many of our graduates being successful in business utilizing the techniques that they used from the culture of the bowling team to be leaders in their communities and successful people. These are some of the things I'm most proud of outside of the success of the championships. I know that was important to our visionary founder John Davis and our owner Jonathan Mitchell."