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Vincennes University

VU Claims 12th in Stacked Midwest Collegiate Field

VU Claims 12th in Stacked Midwest Collegiate Field
October 5, 2025

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Vincennes University Men's Bowling team continued its strong start to the 2025–26 season with a gritty showing at the Midwest Collegiate Championships, one of the largest Tier I events on the schedule, finishing 12th overall among a 55-team field that featured many of the nation's top programs.

Saturday — Traditional Play

The Trailblazers entered the weekend already short-handed, with juniors Dakota Waskom and Dylan Lewis unavailable for competition due to illness. Their absence required immediate lineup adjustments and gave several younger players expanded opportunities. Despite the early shuffle, VU battled through a slow start to piece together a strong traditional block, totaling 5,032 pins across five games, to finish day one in eighth place overall.

After opening with a 933, the Blazers found their rhythm with scores of 966, 1,047, 1,076, and 1,010 to climb to eighth place entering Sunday's Baker round. Junior Nick Gregg led the effort with a 1,078 series (215.6 average) highlighted by games of 245, 237, and 209. Sophomore Carter Martin followed with a 1,029 series (205.8 average) and a 238 high game, while freshman Nick Hubbard closed strong with a 733 series capped by a team-best 267 game. Junior Eli Fromm added a 786 series led by a 233 opener, and freshman Cadyn Coddington contributed 559 pins with a 198 high.

Head Coach Paul LeMond praised his team's focus and adaptability throughout the day. "We were already down a couple of players, so we had to make some early adjustments and move people into new roles," LeMond said. "We got off to a slow start but kept battling and grinding. Once we settled in, guys like Nick Gregg and Carter Martin really stepped up, and Nick Hubbard gave us a huge spark down the stretch. We worked hard to find the right ball motion and make the right moves, and the group responded well."

Sunday — Baker Play

Sunday presented another lineup challenge as Nick Gregg, after leading the team on Saturday, was unable to compete due to illness. With several key contributors still unavailable, VU relied on a seven-man rotation to navigate the demanding 16-game Baker format.

The Blazers opened with a 768 block, then strung together steady sets of 822, 822, and 775, giving them a team total of 3,187 Baker pins and a 41-game tournament total of 8,219 pins, good for 12th place overall. The Trailblazers posted several highlights during their Baker stretch, including games of 233, 245, and 232, while averaging just under 200 per game (194.1) through their best block. With Gregg unavailable, Carter Martin and Nick Hubbard anchored the rotation, while Colton Martin and Eli Fromm filled key transitional spots to stabilize lane play. Sophomore Tad Harvey earned his first varsity action and impressed with clean frames in pressure situations, while Cadyn Coddington continued to provide consistent looks and helped guide adjustments late in the block.

"When Nick wasn't able to go on Sunday, we had to reshuffle again and trust our depth," LeMond said. "Everyone gave everything they had. Tad Harvey came in and threw the ball really well for his first varsity action. Even through fatigue and frustration, the guys stayed locked in, communicated, and kept competing."

LeMond said the weekend's adversity showed the team's resilience and potential moving forward. "This was a loaded Tier I field, and to finish 12th says a lot about where we're at," he said. "We're still young—six of the eight who traveled are freshmen or sophomores—but we're learning fast. Once we gel, this group is going to be really good. Our spare shooting and communication are improving each week, and experiences like this only make us stronger."

Next Up

The Trailblazers will look to build on their strong early-season form at the Columbia 300 Western Shootout, another Tier I event, October 11–12 at Royal Pin Western in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Men's Bowling squad all year long through a number of ways: