The Valpo bowling team completed its first tournament of the spring semester over the weekend in Las Vegas, finishing in 10^th place at the Stormin’ Blue and White Classic.

How It Happened – Saturday

• Valpo took on the nation’s top team in #1 McKendree to open traditional team action on Saturday, and despite averaging better than 200 a bowler, fell by a 1166-1002 final. Senior Becky Lohse (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) led the way in the opener with a game of 209, while junior Hannah Forton (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) posted a 203.
• Valpo suffered a 16-pin defeat in its second match, dropping a 999-983 decision to #23 Monmouth. Forton led the Brown and Gold in that contest with a 227, while Lohse posted her best game of the day with a 214. Senior Morgan Peacha (Henderson, Nev./Foothill) tallied a 203 as well.
• Valpo earned a 971-911 victory over #25 Prairie View A&M in the third match slot, led by Forton recording a 227 for the second straight match. Lohse also broke 200 for a third straight match, posting a score of 210, while freshman Alexis Roof (Flint, Mich./Kearsley) rounded out a trio above 200 with a 201 game.
• Roof posted a second consecutive game of 201 in the next match slot to lead Valpo, as the Brown and Gold finished with a 953 in a bye match.
• Valpo closed the day against #16 Tulane, falling 979-942. Junior Payton Bertermann (Grayslake, Ill./North) paced Valpo in the finale with a 210 game.

How It Happened – Sunday

• Valpo was the eighth seed for the best-of-seven baker bracket action on the third day of competition, as it closed the first two days in eighth place with 9,775 total pins.
• Valpo opened bracket play against #15 Maryville and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven contest. But Maryville would storm back to win four straight, including a 10-pin victory in game four and a three-pin win in game six, to send the Crusaders to a 4-3 defeat.
• The loss sent Valpo into a matchup against #14 Delaware State. Valpo claimed a victory in the first game, but lost the next three, including a narrow one-pin loss in game four. A two-pin win in game five extended the match for Valpo, but it was unable to overcome a 279 game from the Hornets in game six, falling 4-2.
• The tournament finale came against #23 Monmouth, a 4-1 loss, as Valpo finished the tournament in 10^th

Next Up

Valpo (28-34) returns in action in two weekends at the Columbia 300 Saints Invitational in Chesterfield, Mo. The three-day event kicks off Friday, Jan. 24.