University News
WIU Bowling Team Crowned National Champions
April 25, 2001
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MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University men's club bowling team earned its second national title in three years at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships held April 18-21 in Grand Rapids, MI.
The WIU bowling team won the 1999 national tournament, and three members of that championship team helped lead the 2001 squad to a repeat title. They include graduate communication student Pete Albanese from Macomb and senior communication majors Scott Bentley of Rockford and Shawn Wochner of East Moline. Rounding out the championship squad and earning their first national crown were tournament MVP Derek Sapp, a senior marketing major from Keokuk, IA; Shane Keefauver, a junior law enforcement and justice administration major from Canton; and Clay Herrbach, a freshman general studies major from Naperville.
Taking a second place seed into the 16-team field, WIU defeated Florida State 4-3 in a best-of-seven Baker System match, after being down 3-1 in the series. Western advanced out of the qualifying round as the second seed and defeated Michigan State (4-3), Kansas (4-2) and top-seeded St. John's (4-3) en route to the finals against Florida State.
The championship win places Western in the record books as only the fifth school to have won two national titles. Wichita State is the only school to have won more than two titles; the Shockers have earned six championships throughout the 27-year tourney.
WIU's bowling team is coached by Randy Widger; assistant coach is Dave Fulton.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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