Conquering the Lane

The women’s bowling team continued to earn titles on the national stage during its 2019- 2020 season, although their run for a national championship was cut short due to COVID-19.

Head Women’s Bowling Coach Bobby Brown focused on the fundamentals and helped the Bears achieve unparalleled dominance in their eighth Mid-South Conference (MSC) regularseason championship with a perfect 66-0 record and back-to-back fourth all-time MSC Tournament Championship.

Brown, who was awarded the MSC Coach of the Year, embodies what it means to be a winning coach and shapes the young lives of his players.

New York native and UPIKE alum Lauren Piotrowski ʼ20 earned a place on the NAIA Women’s Bowling All-American Team. Piotrowski captured the 2020 NAIA Women’s Bowling Player of the Year honor in addition to making a spot as a First Team All-American. The two-time MSC Women’s Bowler of the Year, First-Team All-Conference Bowler and MSC Champion of Character captured her recognition in the inaugural All-American selection for the NAIA.

Piotrowski finished a two-year career by breaking her single season record score, averaging 207.1 pins per game this season, beating the record she set last season of 205. She also finished second in the country in all divisions of collegiate bowling with a +36.0-average differential, meaning she averaged 36 pins more than the event average on the season.

In addition, Jessica Wolfe ʼ20 and Brittany Turcotte ’20 were named MSC First Team and NAIA Second Team All-American.

Wolfe had an outstanding season in her own right, averaging 197.9 on the season. She picked up an individual win at the MSC Indianapolis Collegiate Classic in February and finished in the top 10 in nine of UPIKE’s 12 events this year.

UPIKE set the bar high for success in the classroom and had 16 total honorees for the academic All-MSC awards, which included Piotrowski, Turcotte and Wolfe.

Wolfe continues to be grateful for the opportunity to attend UPIKE and be a part of the bowling team. She has gained several friendships that will last a lifetime.

“UPIKE has made a huge impact on my life and prepared me for my future. Going to school four hours away from home was difficult, but it was easier knowing that everyone on campus was more than willing to help with anything I needed,” said Wolfe. “UPIKE has made me a better student and a better person.”

Piotrowski says that UPIKE is her home away from home and is thankful to have had an experience where coaches and teammates become family.

“UPIKE has had a positive impact on me and prepared me for the future,” said Piotrowski. “I have so much confidence inside and out of the classroom because of my coaches and professors.”

Brown’s hardest job this season was telling the group of seniors that their championship journey was canceled. He believes itʼs about players giving their all to the team and not about winning or losing.

“No matter what happened to our season, I got to see a group of seniors graduate and know they became one of the best teams in the country,” said Brown. “I know in my heart that we are national champions because of what we have conquered.”