NEWPORT, Ky. – For the second straight year, the Walsh University women’s bowling team won the 2025 Great Midwest Bowling Championship recently
Walsh and Belmont Abbey faced off in a championship mega match. The Cavaliers fell in the traditional game 949-877 giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead heading into the baker total pinfall portion of the mega match. Walsh took a two-pin lead after Game 2 but couldn’t keep the lead falling 957-839 sealing the championship for Belmont Abbey.
Walsh had to earn its way to the championship mega match, facing Thomas More in the final best-of-seven baker match of the tournament beating the Saints 4-2 to secure a spot in the championship match. That also shored up at least the G-MAC title for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs entered double-elimination bracket play as the No. 3 seed after qualifying with a total pinfall of 2,511. The Cavs then fell in their first baker match of the tournament to fourth-seeded Thomas More, 4-3.
Saturday’s bracket play began with an elimination game against top-seeded Belmont Abbey. Walsh found themselves on the brink of being eliminated from the tournament as the Crusaders jumped out to a three-game lead, but the Cavs rallied to win four-straight baker games to keep its tournament hopes alive beating Belmont Abbey, 4-3.
Walsh found itself in another elimination match on Saturday afternoon against Barton. The Cavs again find themselves down, this time 2-0, before surging back to win four-straight games again to beat the Bulldogs, 4-2.
Earning all-conference team honors for Walsh were Kendall Schaar and Maggie Lewis, while Tara Oberlin and Scholar earned places on the all-tournament teanm. Lewis also was honored with the Elite 26 award that recognizes the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average in her sport.
Thomas More captured the G-MAC men’s title for the first time in school history.
In the Mega Match Championship, Thomas More jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the traditional portion of the match 959-877. The men fell to Belmont Abbey in the baker total pinfall format 937-797 to bring the mega match score to even at 1-1. The two teams would then move to the final portion of the mega match event, a best-of- seven baker match. The Saints would keep things close falling 4-2 to seal the overall tournament championship for Belmont Abbey.
Opening day started with Round 2 and the Saints found themselves in an elimination game against Walsh. Thomas More fell behind after Game 1, before rolling to a tie in Game 2, setting the scene for a seven-game series. The Saints would come from behind to win the last four games to win the match 4.5-2.5. That win secured at least the G-MAC title for Thomas More with the Saints being the final Great Midwest team standing.
Two Cavaliers men’s players gained honors. Ethan Gary was named co-bowler of the year as well as earning a spot on the all=toiurnament team. Jack Furman also was an all-tournament team selection.
In addition, Walsh’s Nathan Davis along with Gary earned all-conference team selections.
NCAA TOURNAMENT SET
The 2025 NCAA bowling championship selections were announced recently ahead of regional matches early this month, The championships Here is a list of the opening round matches, set for April 3
- Belmont Abbey vs. Prairie View
- Kutztown vs. Fayetteville St.
- Marian (WI) vs. Saint Vincent
- Regional round (Double-elimination mega-match)
Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5- No. 1 Jacksonville St. vs. Arlington Winner Match 1
- No. 2 Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh Winner Match 1
- No. 3 Youngstown St. vs. Rochester Winner Match 1
- Lancing Winner Match 1 vs. Lansing Winner Match 2
- No. 4 Wichita St. vs. Felician
- N.C. A&T vs. Louisiana Tech
- Arkansas St. vs. Maryville (MO)
- Sam Houston vs. SFA
- Finals round | Friday, April 11
- 4-team double-elimination mega-match format
- Championship round | Saturday, April 12
- Best-of-seven Baker Match championship format
Jacksonville State won the 2024 bowling national championship in the first year of its program. The Gamecocks beat Arkansas State 4-3 in a best-of-seven championship match.