FORT WORTH, Texas - The Oklahoma Christian men's bowling team headed down to Fort Worth, Texas to bowl in the Intercollegiate Singles Championships (ISC) and Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) for a chance to advance to nationals Mar. 7-9. 

Day One

The first day of sectionals was the ISC's in which ten OC bowlers took to the lanes for an opportunity to advance in singles nationals. Although some were close such as freshmen Landon Connell who had finished in 11th and senior C.J. Petrin who had finished in 19th. 

At the end of the six games, junior Connor Fleming was able to finish in the top six qualifiers to advance to nationals in the ISC's as he finished in second place with a pinfall total of 1416. 

Fleming becomes just the third individual in program history to advance in the ISC, as he joins current teammate Petrin who made it in 2022 and Oklahoma Christian alum, Josh Imhoff, who advanced in 2021. 

Day Two

The goal at the end of the weekend was to finish in the top four teams in the sectional in order to advance to nationals. The Eagles would need to bowl 64 baker games across two days to determine if their season would extend for one more tournament or end this weekend. 

Oklahoma Christian would start the weekend off on fire as they would build a 343 pin lead over second place after 32 baker games on Saturday. OC had a pin fall total of 7053, which was not only good to lead their section, but this put them ahead of all teams across the four sectionals after the first day of qualifying.  

Day Three

After starting the first day of ITC on a tear, the Eagles would look to do more of the same in the final 32 games of qualifying. Unfortunately Oklahoma Christian would start the day sluggish, as the teams below them were chipping at their lead. 

Although the gap between OC and second would get smaller after every set of four baker games, the Eagles would never give up their lead. After a tough grueling 60 games across two days, there were four more to be bowled to determine who would win the Fort Worth mens sectional.

Oklahoma Christian would come out on top as they would win the Fort Worth section by a total of ten pins as they clinched the first ever Sectional Title in program history and advanced to nationals in the ITC's for the second time ever with the first appearance coming in 2022. 

From Coach James Hayes 

"What an amazing weekend for these young men," coach Hayes said. "These young men know how to bowl and they had a great week of practice leading up to this weekend.  We challenged them to come in focused, disciplined, and work as one unit. They did that and more. I am so proud of them and this storied accomplishment"

Up Next 

OC will head out west to Las Vegas, Nev. to bowl at ITC Nationals for a chance to win the national championship on Apr. 14-19.