Re: Wrenn Takes Individual Title, Penguins Win Mount Shootout

[IAA Fan]

Behind an MVP performance from sophomore Emma Wrenn, the Youngstown State bowling team earned four head-to-head wins and sits first in total pinfall after the first day at the Mount Shootout. The tournament is being held at Terrace Lanes in Frederick, Md., and is being hosted by Mount St. Mary's.

Wrenn fired scores of 195, 230, 233, 226 and 197 on Saturday for a first-place total of 1,081. She is YSU's first tournament champion in school history, and her 1,081 set ranks second in school history behind Sarah Florence's total from last weekend.

Wrenn helped the 23rd-ranked Penguins go 4-1 in head-to-head matches in the day, and the Penguins own the top spot in the standings after five qualifying games. Youngstown State totaled 4,694 pins in its five traditional games on Saturday, which is 139 ahead of second-place Duquesne. The Penguins lead third-place Delaware State by 146, fourth-place by 177 and fifth-place Chestnut Hill by 189. Youngstown State needs to remain in the top four through two more qualifying games on Sunday to play in the championship bracket.

"Today was the ultimate grind and I'm proud of the ladies for being great teammates throughout the seven-hour block," YSU head coach Doug Kuberski said. "Their shot-making is rock solid, and if we maintain our focus on keeping the ball in play and staying clean, the results will take care of themselves. I feel like we are growing together every day, and I'm looking forward to another day of solid growth on Sunday."

Youngstown State beat No. 16 Saint Francis U 952-860 to open the day behind a 245 game from Nikki Mendez, and the Penguins followed that up with a 956-913 victory over No. 21 Mount St. Mary's. Wrenn, Mendez and Florence were all above 200 in the third game that led to the highest total of the day for YSU and a 1,014-895 victory over Howard. The Penguins then beat St. Francis Brooklyn 891-816, and they dropped their final match 933-881 to No. 15 Delaware State.

Individually, Mendez finished five pins out of the top five and placed seventh with a 977 set. Florence placed 14th with a 939, and Emma Dockery finished 23rd with a 912.

Youngstown State will bowl against Morgan State and Coppin State on Sunday beginning at 8:55 a.m. in two quint Baker matches to finish qualifying. The Penguins will then begin best-of-seven bracket play for their final placing at the tournament.

[IAA Fan]

Nice job. Individual champion, first-place (so far) in qualifying bracket and 2 national top-25 victories.

[IAA Fan]

The Youngstown State bowling team rallied from 3-1 deficit against Duquesne in the championship match to capture its second tournament title in as many weeks on Sunday at the Mount Shootout.

The Penguins secured the top seed in bracket play with two solid efforts in Baker play on Sunday morning, and they topped Wilmington in five games in the best-of-seven format to advance to the title match. Youngstown State found itself down 3-1 to the Dukes but strung together 216-173 and 203-177 wins to extend the match for a dramatic seventh game.

In game seven, Youngstown State left two splits in the first six frames but stayed close enough for a late push. Rachel Darrow spared in the seventh to start the surge, and Sarah Florence followed with another eight-count spare in the eighth. Duquesne missed a 10 pin for its first open frame in its eighth to open the door, and Emma Dockery immediately struck to give the Penguins a huge momentum swing. Tournament MVP Emma Wrenn followed with all three strikes in the 10th give the Penguins a 199 and lock out the Dukes, who ended up opening on two of their last three frames to finish with a 173.
"I'm proud of how strong mentally we were throughout the weekend," Penguins head coach Doug Kuberski said. "All eight ladies played a big role in our success. It was a total team effort all around to navigate the ups and down over the weekend, and we grew stronger together."

Youngstown State posted totals of 945 and 991 in standard Baker play in wins over Morgan State and Coppin State to start the day. The two wins in bracket play gave the Penguins an 8-1 head-to-head record for the weekend.

Youngstown State will be idle the final weekend of October, and they'll begin a busy November at the Track Kat Klash on Nov. 1.