Olivia Daujatas (from left), Megan Gillson, Monica Darrow, Barbara Lunsford, Breanna Pimentel, Lida Burgos, and Heidi Johnson at the 2024 ITC Nationals in Jeffersontown, KY. The Xavierite
The Saint Xavier women’s bowling team competed in the Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Nationals on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19. The Cougars finished 13 of 16 on Thursday and ninth of 16 on Friday to cap off a strong season.
Senior Barbara Lunsford, also a Features Reporter for the Xavierite, competed at ITC Nationals over the weekend saying the experience was “very special” for her and her teammates.
Lunsford also mentioned that finding out they qualified for the tournament was a very emotional moment for everyone.
“There is no feeling quite like winning with a team and I would not trade that moment for anything,” Lunsford said about qualifying for ITC Nationals.
SXU started the tournament on Thursday against Jacksonville State University who is led by Shannon O’Keefe;, an 18-time member of Team USA and eight-time world champion.
The Cougars held their own in the first game of their match against Jax State, losing by just three pins with a 186-183 score. Saint Xavier was able to grab one of the games against JSU, but ultimately lost 4-1 to open the tournament.
Jacksonville State won the NCAA Bowling Championship the previous weekend and Lunsford said they’re, “probably the best NCAA team in the country right now…” and SXU stayed in the matches with them from start to finish.
Because of the loss in round one, the Cougars had to wait until Friday to play again and work their way through the losers bracket.
Facing off against Oklahoma Christian University in their second match of the weekend, SXU bounced back with a huge win.
Winning four of five games, Saint Xavier’s pin total was 944-869 and they moved on to round four.
Saint Xavier faced off against University of Pikeville in their fourth match, and it proved to be a tough one.
The two tied their first game 224-224 making it 0.5-0.5, but Pikeville shifted gears for the next four games. Scores from the finals games were 246-172, 238-220, 240-172, and 210-161; all in favor of U. Pikeville.
The Bears averaged 231.6 pins per game to the Cougars’ 189.9.
It was a tough loss to end their season on, but Saint Xavier put up a fight and could walk out of the tournament with their heads held high.
Competition in the tournament was tough and that was something the Cougars were aware of entering the tournament. Lunsford spoke of their preparation for ITC Nationals, saying they worked on making each practice “more meaningful.”
“We would work on executing good shots while our heart rates were up, spare shooting, and lining each other up,” the senior said.
She also brought up how the most important part for their team is to know each player’s game so communication in games is easier.
Lunsford went on to talk about how their season was full of unexpected situations but they stuck together until the end and she “could not be prouder” of what they accomplished together. One of those accomplishments included competing in the NAIA Women’s Bowling National Championships in March, where they took fourth place.
Although Saint Xavier may not have gotten the result they wanted, Lunsford added that just being able to compete at ITC Nationals was an honor itself.
“Being here with a team is very special,” she said about the tournament, “my girls have my back and I have theirs…We win together and we fight together.”
If this season was a glimpse of what the program has in store, they have a bright future ahead of themselves.
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