Louisville, KY – The Webber International men's and women's bowling team took on their greatest challenge of the season in ISC and ITC National tournaments this week. The Warriors sent three individual bowlers to compete in the singles competition and both men's and women's teams to the team event, and saw Jaqueline Witura win MVP and Player of the Year awards. All three of Jayvion Colston, Nick Larsen, and Witura made it out of qualifying, but fell just short in the first two rounds of bracket play. The Warrior women's team did well through qualifying, but a good Sacred Heart team got the best of the Warriors and eliminated them in round four of the bracket on Friday afternoon. The Warrior men's team got off to a fast start with a first-place finish through qualifying, and after a tough battle through bracket play, clinched the title and brought home the national championship.
 
The Warriors began their national tournament week with the ISC tournament on Monday and Tuesday. The Warriors having two males competing, Jayvion Colston, and Nick Larsen, and one female, Jaqueline Witura. In a 24-player field, Colston would finish in eighth place through qualifying with a game four high of 247, and 1,287 pins overall through six games. Larsen would show a strong late qualifying performance with a game five high of 257, and 1,127 pins overall for a 21^st place finish in qualifying. Witura remained consistent in a tough field of competitors through qualifying and had a game four high of 210 with 1,134 pins overall to place her in 17^th going into bracket play on Tuesday. Opening up play on Tuesday afternoon, Larsen had a first round matchup with the 12^th seeded Josh Hammons from the University of Kansas. Larsen competed until the last frame, but would fall just short 518-495 wrapping up his ISC tournament. Colston, placing in the top eight through qualifying earned himself a round one bye, and took on Carstin Olson in round two from Hastings University. Olson coming off a victory in round one, continued that momentum to take down Colston 586-548 and conclude his ISC tournament. Witura would see a first-round matchup on Tuesday afternoon against Keyla Covarrubias from Jacksonville State. Witura would have a strong performance but fall to Covarrubias 623-572 concluding the Warriors attempt at taking home the ISC championship.
 
The Warriors attended the Night of Champions Banquest on Wednesday evening, a break between the ISC and ITC competitions, and the Warriors brought home some hardware with Witura winning MVP and Player of the Year Awards to celebrate her fantastic 2023-2024 season.
 
Going into the ITC event play, the Warriors men's and women's teams had both qualified through sectionals and were excited to compete for a chance for a national championship. The women's team consisted of Aliyah Alleyne, Daniela Gonzalez, Linda Himes, Liberty McKinney, Jenna Williams, Jaqueline Witura, and Kelsie Zanin. The men's team consisted of James Bennett, Brandon Bohn, Charles Bostic, Austin Grammar, Nick Larsen, Brett Lloyd, Aaron Reingold, and AJ Wolstenholme.
 
Thursday morning started off the ITC event for the Warriors as both men's and women's teams began their 24 baker qualifying games. The men's team had a strong start and finish through the first 12 games, with a game four high of 257 and a game 12 score of 255. They would be sitting in second place in a field of the 16 best teams in the country at the halfway point of qualifying. The women's team got off to a bit of a slower start to qualifying but finished strong in the latter half of the first block of games with a game 11 high of 231. They would be in 15^th place through the first half of qualifying, looking to capitalize on the second block of games. The men's team contiued their strong start to the tournament with a game 13 high of 289 and finished the second block of qualifying with 2,586 pins overall and 5,229 total to finish first in qualifying heading into bracket play. The women's squad would stay steady in their play through the second half of qualifying and head into bracket play as the 15^th seed.
 
The women's team would face off with SCAD – Savannah, the second seed, to open up round one in bracket play on Thursday afternoon, and after claiming two games, they would fall to the Bee's 4-2 in a best of seven, moving the Warriors to the loser's bracket and a tough road back going into Friday. They would start Friday morning off right with a 4-2 victory over Tulane, moving them into a matchup with Sacred Heart. The Warriors battled, but Sacred Heart would get the better of the Warriors, taking them down 4-1 and concluding a very successful and well-earned season for the Lady Warriors.
 
The Warrior men's team, going into bracket play as the one seed, would matchup with Muskingum in round one on Thursday afternoon, and the Warriors would meet their match as Muskingum came out of the gates rolling hot and took down the Warriors 4-0, forcing the Warriors to fight out of the loser's bracket starting on Friday morning, but that would be the only time the Warriors saw defeat in this tournament. Friday morning's schedule started with a 4-2 victory over Midland, then a 4-2 win over Mount Mercy. The Warriors then saw Pikeville, and handled them in five games, winning 4-1 to advance to the finals of the losers bracket and a rematch with Muskingum from the day before. The Warriors, on a roll from winning three decisive games in the day so far, they got revenge on Muskingum winning 4-0 to advance to the Red bracket finals against Wichita State. The Warriors needing to beat Wichita State two times to advance to the national championship game on Saturday evening would fight tooth and nail with the Shockers. The first match went all seven games, with the Warriors winning the decisive game seven to move them into position to win a second match. The second match would not be anywhere as close for the Warriors as they shocked the Shockers, sweeping them in four games 4-0 to advance to the national championship game against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils on Saturday evening. The Blue Devils, winners of the blue bracket, only played four games through bracket play compared to the Warriors six games and that momentum of great play for the Warriors played a huge role in the championship matchup. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 2-1 lead in a best of five championship series, but the Warriors refused to go quietly into the cold night. The Warriors would win game four and then ultimately deliver the final blow and win game five to clinch the title and bring home the national championship.
 
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